Category: Auto Racing

Practice Day 2- Andretti Team Looks to Stay Up Front; More Race Set Up Work

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Photo: Fernando Alonso. Photo by Joe Skibinski, Indycar

Good morning from the northwest media center annex. Practice day 2 should see more than the 2, 444 laps turned yesterday as there will be no break for Rookie and refresher tests. Ben Hanley still needs to complete his refresher. He will get time before the track opens for practice this morning. Hanley needs 15 laps run between 205 and 210 mph followed by 15 laps above 210.

Most teams will probably work on race setups today. there is no qualifying pressure for two reasons. The most obvious one is that no one will be bumped. Keep your car together and run a decent speed and you are in the race.  Second, tomorrow the cars get the extra boost for qualifying so there is really no need to worry about a qualifying setup today.

Will the Andretti cars be up front again today? Can Rossi, Herta, and Veach join their teammates at the front? Scott Dixon looked strong yesterday as well. Dixon struggled at IMS last year.

Tony Kanaan took Dalton Kellett’s car out for six laps to help the rookie get u to speed to complete his rookie test. I think TK has a future as a driver coach.

I’ll be back with a wrap up this evening. If something newsworthy happens during the day, I will keep you informed.

Pole Tales: 1953-Vuky Begins His Reign in the Rain

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Bill Vukovich entered the 1953 Indianapolis 500 having some  unfinished business. He had led 150 laps in 1952 only to crash with eight laps remaining when a steering arm broke. It was Vukovich’s second race, and he had already impressed Speedway veterans. Troy Ruttman went on to win, becoming the youngest driver to win the race.

Pole Day, May 16, was rained out. It was the first time in the eight years of the Hulman/Shaw era that qualifying had to be postponed. The 1950 race was shortened to 345 miles due to rain.

The next day didn’t look promising either. The track finally dried for qualifying to begin around 2:20, leaving just a little more than three hours to put some cars in the field and determine the pole. Freddie Agabashian had the fastest time at 137.546 mph and Jack McGrath was provisionally in the middle of the front row with a speed of 136.602 mph.

Vukovich went out and turned a blistering 139.147 mile an hour first lap. A fishtail on lap two may have cost him the one lap record. His third lap was the second fastest of the run at 138.739. AS he exited turn four onhis final qualifying lap, a thunderstorm suddenly drenche the front straight. Vukovich wiggled a bit but straightened out the car and completed the run. The rain slowed  his final lap to 137.132. The 138.392 average put Vukovich on the pole. He beat Agabashian’s time by 1.6 seconds.

Vukovich left no doubt in the race as to who would win. He led 195 laps and was one of two drivers who did not n3eed a relief driver in the scorching heat.

First Day Thoughts

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Photo: Indycar, James Black

It was a strange feeling to be watching from just a few miles away. The track looked to be in good shape, but it was very odd to see the stands empty.  I think the weekend will just emphasize the emptiness, especially when someone runs a really quick lap.

Conor Daly’s car looks amazing coming down the front stretch. It is I think the most telegenic car in the field. It really pops.

I found it hard to get used to Fernando Alonso in a black, white, and green livery. I also forgot Ruoff was his sponsor.

Andretti Autosport had their best first day at a track this year. Let’s see if they are still near the top on Friday.

Ben Hanley will have a busy day tomorrow. he was given 30 minutes on track after practice ended, but only ran a few laps. He needs to complete his refresher test first.

It seemed as if most of the rookies were feeling out the track today. Alex Palou finished in the top 10, but the others were near the bottom of the charts.  I don’t put much stock in the first practice. I look for more speed from this talented group tomorrow.

This is certainly one of the more colorful fields in a while. There is a lot red/orange, some yellow, and some blue. The pace laps should look great with the red Corvette leading the pack.

I know the media that is onsite means well, but their photos this morning before practice were difficult to see. I do appreciate that they are there to keep us up to date. I hope to be back next year.

Tomorrow on The Pit Window is the debut of Pole Tales. I will share some of the more dramatic pole runs in 500 history.  The good news is there will be no Bump Tales this year. No bumping does have its advantages.

The time sheet from today

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Practice Begins for a Very Different 500

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Good morning from the 71st and Michigan Road media center annex of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Practice begins today for the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 on August 23.

Today’s schedule all times ET:

11-1 Veterans

1-3  Rookie Orientation and refreshers

3-5:30  All cars

Coverage: NBC Gold

The weather forecast seems to be improving for the week. Today should be dry.

My race preview will come out next week.  Some story lines to follow for now:

No Fans

For the first time in he race’s history, the 500 will take place with no fans watching.  How will it affect the drivers?  I have wondered if having fans in the stands on race day affects the drivers’ perspectives in certain areas of the track.

The winner will not hear  cheers while on the victory podium or see the fans waving on his cool down lap. That will be disappointing to whomever wins.

The pre race grid will be eerily quiet with the throngs that usually pack the front stretch.

We have seen two races without fans. They seemed weird, but the 500 will seem even stranger, I think. The energy fans bring to this race is unlike the buzz at any other track.

Aeroscreen

The aeroscreen gets its first test on the speedway this week. We know from iIowa that it performs as it was designed to. Will it hold up at higher speeds in a similar incident? How will it affect handling? Will passing be more difficult?

Will the extra weight slow the cars? Will the aeroscreen act as front downforce?

Indycar has once again modified the cooling system with larger tubing and a filtration system to keep debris out of the cockpit. I will be looking for what the drivers think of the changes.

Helio’s Last Ride for Penske?

2020 could be the final year in which Helio Castroneves drives at Indianapolis for Roger Penske. The three time 500 winner has been driving full time for Penske in IMSA, but that program ends after this season. The full time drivers have been told to seek other rides. Castroneves has expressed interest in returning to Indycar full time.  He may have to settle for a mid pack team next year. How Castroneves does this year may determine where he ends up next year.

No Women in the Field

For the first time in 20 years the field will not have a female driver. Pippa Mann could no put together a program for 2020. It may be a few years before we see the next woman drive in the 500.

Bump Tales Bumped This Year,  Pole Tales Coming

Because there will be no bumping, Bump Tales will spend the year in quarantine. Tomorrow, look for the first edition of Pole Tales, stories of how poles were won before the Fast Nine came into being.

 

 

 

 

Dragonspeed Fills the Field at 33; Hoosier Hundred Returns

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Yesterday Dragonspeed confirmed Ben Hanley will drive the number 81 in the 104th running for the Indianapolis 500.  The entry is the 33rd for the race, avoiding a less than full  field for the first time since 1947. Given the economic climate I think it is quite an accomplishment to have 33 cars this year.

Two other possible entries, Juncos Racing and Top Gun Racing, decided not to pursue an entry until next year. Juncos ran out of time to secure sponsorship and get a car built in time. Top Gun had a sponsor withdraw because there would be no track activation. Cutting the purse in half also figured into their decision. R. C. Enerson was scheduled to drive for Top Gun.

Five rookies are entered- Pato O’Ward, Oliver Askew, Rinus VeeKay,  Alex Palou, and Dalton Kellett. O’Ward passed his rookie test last year but did not qualify for the race.

This year’s race will be the first without a female driver since 1999. Pippa Mann was unable to put a program together for this year.

Because there are only 33 cars, there will be no Last Row Shootout next Sunday, but the Fats Nine will still take place.

The entry list, thanks to Eric Smith of Race Review Online:

Chevrolet (17)

Team Penske (4) – Will Power, Simon Pagenaud, Josef Newgarden and Helio Castroneves

Ed Carpenter Racing (3) – Ed Carpenter, Conor Daly, Rinus VeeKay R

Arrow McLaren SP (3) – Pato O’Ward R, Oliver Askew R, Fernando Alonso

AJ Foyt Racing (3) – Tony Kanaan, Charlie Kimball, Dalton Kellett R

Carlin (1) – Max Chilton

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (2) – Sage Karam, JR Hildebrand

DragonSpeed (1) – Ben Hanley

Honda (16)

Andretti Autosport (6) – Zach Veach, Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay, James Hinchcliffe, Colton Herta, Marco Andretti

Chip Ganassi Racing (3) – Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist, Marcus Ericsson

Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan Racing (3) – Graham Rahal, Takuma Sato, Spencer Pigot (Citrone/Buhl partnership)

Dale Coyne Racing (3) – Santino Ferrucci, Alex Palou R, James Davison

Meyer Shank Racing (1) – Jack Harvey (Andretti alliance)

Hoosier Hundred Gets New Life

The Hoosier Hundred, thought to be gone after 2019, will return to Indiana State Fairgrounds August 23. The race began in 1953 as part of the USAC national championship. It is now an event in the USAC Silver Crown series. Ther ace is scheduled for 8pm, well after the 500 is over, but activities begin with practice and qualifying during the 500.

The race is able to return because of the pandemic. The track was going to be resurfaced with a limestone base and become a full time harness racing facility. The work never got started due to the pandemic, so this may truly be the final Hoosier 100.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday at 10 am ET at usactickets.com. Seating capacity is limited to 25%.

The 500 Shrinks Even More- No Balloons, Purse Cut, No Last Row Shootout

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The pandemic has claimed more of the normal Indianapolis 500 pre-race activity and has had an effect on the purse.  The last row shootout will not take place on Sunday, August 16, there will not be the traditional balloon release which usually precedes the command to start engines, and the purse, supposed to be $15 million this year, has been cut to $7 million. I have a feeling the schedule and other plans may be adjusted as next week goes on. At the end of this piece I have attached the revised on track schedule.

Balloon Release

The balloon release was eliminated to reduce the number of personnel at the track on race day. As of now IMS is expecting 2,500 people on hand for race day. The announcement did not address the environmental concerns about the balloons, and a spokesperson said there is no intention of doing away with the tradition. Once something is eliminated, it usually doesn’t return. With no fans present for the race, I don’t think it matters whether the balloons are released. The 500 is going to look like any other race.

Last Row Shootout

The official entry list is at 31 cars with one more definitely expected. There is still a possibility of a 33rd entry, but no more. With no chance for bumping, the Speedway eliminated that part of qualifying Sunday’s schedule. If only they had removed the Fast Nine part as well and just made Sunday a practice day.  The Fast Nine is a relic from when the track needed content fillers for qualifying days. It’s time to retire this played out part of the schedule. If someone has a problem Saturday, let them start last.

The Purse

Teams knew they were going to take a financial hit, but this really hurts the smaller teams. The winner will receive just over $1 million. There is nothing that can be done about this. With no ticket revenue, the Speedway cannot offer the payout they had planned.

Indy 500 on-track schedule

Wednesday, Aug. 12

11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Oval Veterans Practice (NBC Sports Gold)

1-3 p.m.: Rookie Orientation, Veteran Refresher (NBC Sports Gold)

3-5:30 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 Practice (NBC Sports Gold)

Thursday, Aug. 13

11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 Practice (NBC Sports Gold)

Friday, Aug. 14

11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 Practice(NBC Sports Gold)

Saturday, Aug. 15

8:30-9 a.m.: Indianapolis 500 Group 1 Practice (NBC Sports Gold)

9-9:30 a.m.: Indianapolis 500 Group 2 Practice (NBC Sports Gold)

11 a.m.-4:50 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 Qualifying (NBC Sports Gold; NBC 3-5 p.m.)

Sunday, Aug. 16

11-11:30 a.m.: Fast Nine Shootout Practice (NBC Sports Gold)

1:15-2:15 p.m.: Fast Nine Shootout Qualifying (NBC Sports Gold; NBC 1-3 p.m.)

3:30-6 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 Starting Field Practice (NBC Sports Gold; NBCSN 4-6 p.m.)

Friday, Aug. 21

11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 Final Practice (NBC Sports Gold)

Sunday, Aug. 23

1 p.m.: Start of Indianapolis 500 pre-race broadcast (NBC)

2:30 p.m.: 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 (NBC)

Carpenter Adds Space Force Sponsorship for 500

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Ed Carpenter Racing has a new sponsor for the number 20 car for the August 23rd Indianapolis 500. The United States Space Force joins the team. The U. S. Air Force already sponsors the number 47, which  Conor Daly will drive in the 500, and it also sponsors the 20 car when Daly drives it on the road and street courses. Carpenter has touted his team as the All american team, so this sponsorship falls in line with the team’s theme.  The press release:

U.S. SPACE FORCE JOINS ED CARPENTER RACING FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS 500
Three-Time Indy 500 Pole Winner Ed Carpenter Will Drive No. 20 U.S. Space Force Chevrolet on August 23
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(WASHINGTON, D.C.) August 7, 2020 – The U.S. Space Force announced a partnership with Ed Carpenter Racing this morning on FOX & Friends. Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, Chief of Space Operations unveiled the No. 20 U.S. Space Force Chevrolet with driver and team owner Ed Carpenter. The three-time Indianapolis 500 pole winner will carry the colors of the U.S.’s new military branch in this year’s 500-mile race, scheduled for August 23, 2020. Through ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’ Carpenter and ECR will build awareness of the U.S. Space Force in race fans and Americans all over the country.
The U.S. Space Force became the sixth branch of the Department of Defense when it was signed into law on December 20, 2019. The mission of the U.S. Space Force is to protect the interests of the United States in space; deter aggression in, from and to space; and conduct space operations. Similar to the branches of the military which are dedicated to protecting and securing the air, land, and sea, the U.S. Space Force focuses singularly on space.
“The U.S. Space Force’s involvement with the Indy 500 is centered around our organizations’ shared principles of STEM, teamwork, speed and competition,” said Maj. Jason Wyche, Chief of Air Force and Space Force Recruiting National Events Marketing Branch. “Additionally, the partnership gives the U.S. Space Force the ability to reach a large number of prospects and influencers through the far-reaching broadcast viewership and media coverage both for and leading up to the race.”
While Carpenter now races exclusively in the oval events, he is one of the most experienced drivers in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with 184 career starts to date. He began his 18th season of Indy car competition with a Top 5 finish at Texas Motor Speedway in June. Carpenter, an Indianapolis native, has started on the front row of the Indianapolis 500 five of the past seven years. He solidified his status as a hometown favorite by winning the pole position in 2013 and 2014; in 2018, he became just the 10th driver to collect three or more Indy 500 poles in the century-plus history of the race. Of Carpenter’s 16 Indianapolis 500 starts, two of his strongest results have come the past two years, including a runner-up after leading the most laps in 2018.
Carpenter is thrilled to have the opportunity race on behalf of the U.S. Space Force. “This is such an exciting day, unveiling this beautiful U.S. Space Force Chevrolet that I will drive in the Indianapolis 500 on August 23! To be able to represent the men and women of the U.S.’s newest military branch is truly an honor,” proclaimed Carpenter. He continued, “Even though we are not running the ‘500’ on Memorial Day weekend this year, the event has such a strong connection to our Armed Forces and there’s no better way to showcase the brand new U.S. Space Force!”
The U.S. Space Force will organize, train, and equip agile, lean and forward-looking space professionals to defend our nation, allies, and American interests in space. By creating separate service with a dedicated purpose, the United States will maintain an advantage as space becomes more crowded and contested. Approximately 16,000 military and civilians from the former U.S. Air Force Space Command are now assigned to the U.S. Space Force and 6,000 active-duty Airmen will be transferring to the branch.
Just two weeks ago, the U.S. Space Force released its logo and motto, both of which are featured prominently on Carpenter’s No. 20. First used in 1961, the Delta symbol honors the heritage of the U.S. Air Force and Space Command. The silver outer border of the Delta signifies defense and protection from all adversaries and threats from the space domain. In the center of the Delta is the star Polaris, which symbolizes how the core values guide the mission. The U.S. Space Force motto, ‘Semper Supra’ (Always Above), represents the service’s role in establishing, maintaining and preserving U.S. freedom of operations in the space domain.
Carpenter is the only individual in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES who handles both the responsibility of driving and owning his own team. Founded in 2012, Carpenter’s eponymous team has two full-time entries and expands to three cars for the Indianapolis 500. The 39-year-old will compete alongside fellow Hoosier Conor Daly and Dutch rookie Rinus VeeKay. ECR will be representing two branches of the United States military as Daly races for the U.S. Air Force. The 28-year-old’s special edition No. 47 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet pays homage to the founding year of the U.S. Air Force and one of its most iconic aircraft, the Bell X-1. VeeKay, 19, will be competing in his first Indianapolis 500 in the team’s No. 21 entry.
The 2020 Indianapolis 500 was originally slated for May 24 but was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After careful consideration and extensive consultation with state and city leadership, the decision has been made to hold the race on August 23 without spectators. All on-track action from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway can be viewed via NBC Sports Gold, NBCSN or NBC. The 2.5-mile oval will open for practice on Wednesday, August 12 and continue throughout the week. Qualifications will be held on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16. The 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 23 with a live broadcast on NBC.
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About Air Force Recruiting Service
The mission of the U.S. Air Force is to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace. For 2020, the Air Force Recruiting Service is hiring nearly 29,000 new Airmen to fill opportunities in both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force. AFRS is looking to inspire, engage and recruit the next generation of Airmen and Space professionals to preserve the security of America. For more information about U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force benefits and opportunities, go to www.airforce.com.