Category: Uncategorized

A Decade of Drivel-The Pit Window Turns 10

thepitwindowLeave a comment

What started 10 years ago today as a fun little exercise has turned into a labor of love. On this date in 2016 The Pit Window first appeared online. I never thought I would still be writing this little column in 2026, nor would I have believed this space would have taken me the places it has.

In 2016, as I prepared to attend my 50th Indianapolis 500, I wrote a story about my first 500 in 1962 for my writing class at the Life Enrichment Center in Tampa. The story reeceived a positive reaction from the class. They encouraged me to post it online.

I heard from several of my friends in the racing media, who encouraged to write more stories about my race experiences. At that point, I decided to establish a blog. The original title, “The First Fifty Races are the Hardest,” was cumber4some. After about a year I changed the name to The Pit Window, whioch better reflects the theme of my column.

My good friend George Phillips of Oilpressure encouraged me to apply for media credentials. My first race as a media member was at St. Pete. Green Savoree has been very kind to me. In 2018 I earned credentials to IMS.

Writing The Pit Window has allowed to witness and learn much about IndyCar through moments of triumph and tragedy. I have seen the joy of Indianapolis 500 winners in the post race press conferences, felt the pain of drivers bumped from the field., and I was there in 2019 when the Speedway was sold to Roger Penske. I’ll never forget the atmosphere in the media cener that day.

I have many people to thank for both the creation of this blog and its continuing to this point. I apologize if I leave anyone out.

First, the wonderful folks at Life Enrichment Center who have made me a better writer. Without them, especially John, Arleen, Pat, Sherrie, and Cheryl, without them, this space does not exist.

George Phillips, Steve Wittich, and Eric Smith, all of whom gave this awkward media center newbie somemgreat tips on navigating the area.

Finally, my partner Marti Strum, who has always supported my constant travels and the time I spend time writing.

And to all my readers, many of whom have been with me since day one, and those who have come on board since and are still here. Thank you all.

Sonsio Grand Prix Fast Facts

thepitwindowLeave a comment

From IndyCar: Look for my preview Friday morning.

Race weekend: Friday, May 8-Saturday, May 9

Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course (clockwise)

Media Links: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Entry List (PDF) | INDY NXT by Firestone Entry List (PDF) | 

Race distance:
 NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 85 laps / 207.3 miles
 INDY NXT by Firestone: 35 laps / 85.365 miles or 55 minutes (Race 1 – Friday); 30 laps / 73.17 miles or 50 minutes (Race 2 – Saturday)

Push to Pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum single duration of 20 seconds. Push to Pass will be available and allowed for use at all times once the car passes the alternate start-finish line following the start and once the green flag has been displayed. | INDY NXT by Firestone: 65 seconds of total time. Push to Pass will be available and allowed for use at all times once the car passes the alternate start-finish line following the start and once the green flag has been displayed

.Hybrid energy deployment parameters: Unlimited activation, with a maximum deployment of 425 kilojoules (kj) per lap

Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Five sets primary (hard) and five sets alternate (soft) to be used during the event weekend. Teams fielding a rookie driver may use one additional set of primary tires in the first practice session. Teams must use one set of primary and one new (sticker) set of alternate tires for at least two laps in the race. INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the event weekend, with one new set used for qualifying and another new set used during one of the two races. Qualifying tires must be used during one of the two races. Two carryover sets from the Barber Motorsports Park event may be used during pre-qualifying practice.X: @IMS, @IndyCar, #INDYGP,
#INDYCARInstagram: @indianapolismotorspeedway, @INDYCAR, #INDYGP, #INDYCARThreads: @indianapolismotorspeedway, @INDYCAR, #INDYGP, #INDYCARFacebook: @indianapolismotorspeedway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCARTikTok: @indianapolismotorspeedwy, @INDYCAR, #INDYCARYouTube: @IMS, @INDYCAREvent website: www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/NTT INDYCAR SERIES website: www.indycar.com | INDY NXT by Firestone website: www.indynxt.com

2025 race winners:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)

INDY NXT by Firestone Race 1: Lochie Hughes (No. 26 Andretti Global)Race 2: Dennis Hauger (No. 28 Andretti Global)

2025 NTT P1 Award winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES):Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda), 1 minute, 9.3417 seconds, 126.625 mph

2025 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner:Race 1: Lochie Hughes (No. 26 Andretti Global) 1:14.7849, 117.410 mphRace 2: Lochie Hughes (No. 26 Andretti Global) 1:14.8433, 117.317 mph
Qualifying records:NTT INDYCAR SERIESWill Power, 1:07.7044, 129.687 mph, May 12, 2017 (Set in Round 3 of knockout qualifying)INDY NXT by FirestoneEd Jones 1:14.6743, 117.583 mph, May 13, 2016

FOX Sports telecasts: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 
Practice 1, 9 a.m. ET, Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 1 p.m. ET Friday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, 5:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live);
Warmup, 11:30 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Race, 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FOX (live).
Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters. | 

INDY NXT By Firestone: Practice 1, 8 a.m. ET, Friday, FS2 (live); Qualifying, Noon ET Friday, FOX One App (live); Race 1, 4 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live);
Race 2, 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live).
Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDY NXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter.INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query, Nick Yeoman and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Alex Wolff, Rob Blackman and Rich Nye are the pit reporters. The Sonsio Grand Prix race (4 p.m. ET Saturday), the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix doubleheader (3:55 p.m. ET Friday and 2:55 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. All INDY NXT by Firestone practices, qualifying sessions and races are available on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA

.At-track schedule (all times local):
FRIDAY, MAY 8
8-8:45 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice, FS2 (Live)
9:05-10:25 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1 (split group format), FS2 (Live)
Noon-12:30 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying, (two groups/12 minutes each), FOX One (Live)
1:05-2:25 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (split group format), FS1 (Live)
4:01 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 “Drivers, start your engines”
4:06 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 (35 laps/55 minutes), FS2 (Live)
5:35 p.m. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of NTT INDYCAR SERIES knockout qualifications), FS2 (Live)

SATURDAY, MAY 9
11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, FS1 (Live)
2:31 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 2 “Drivers, start your engines”
2:36 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 2 (30 laps/50 minutes), FS1 (Live)
4:30 p.m. FOX on air
4:40 p.m. Sonsio Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”
4:47 p.m. Sonsio Grand Prix (85 laps/207.3 miles), FOX (Live)

“WHAT TO LOOK FOR” AT IMS:
Palou chasing more history: Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing has won three of 2026’s first five races and leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points standings by 17 points. He’ll look to add to his historic INDYCAR SERIES run this weekend on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Palou has won the past three Sonsio Grands Prix and could become the fifth driver since 1946 to win four consecutive INDYCAR SERIES events at the same track.

Penske’s Power Play: It’s fitting that Roger Penske owns Indianapolis Motor Speedway, because IMS has long been a Team Penske playground. Team Penske’s Indy dominance, which includes 20 wins in the Indianapolis 500, also carries over to races on the 2.439-mile road course. Will Power scored five of Team Penske’s eight wins on the road course, with the other wins coming from Simon Pagenaud (2016, 2019) and Josef Newgarden (2020). Can a Team Penske driver start the Month of May off strong for “The Captain”

?NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:The Sonsio Grand Prix will be the 18th INDYCAR SERIES event conducted on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Active race winners expected to compete are Alex Palou, Alexander Rossi, Rinus VeeKay, Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden and Will Power.Four drivers have competed in every INDYCAR SERIES race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course – Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Will Power and Graham Rahal. All are entered this weekend.Team Penske has eight wins on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020-Race 2, 2020-Race 3, 2021-Race 2). Chip Ganassi has five wins – with Scott Dixon in 2020-Race 1 and 2023-Race 2 and Alex Palou in 2023-Race 1, 2024 and 2025. Andretti Global and ECR are the only other teams to win at the track. Andretti Global won the Sonsio Grand Prix with Colton Herta in May 2022 and Gallagher Grand Prix with Alexander Rossi in August 2022, while ECR won in 2021-Race 1 with Rinus VeeKay.Three NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year contenders – Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher – are entered and will race an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car on the IMS road course for the first time. Hauger won one of the two INDY NXT by Firestone races at the track in 2025.Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 362nd consecutive start, the longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history.

INDY NXT by Firestone Notes: INDY NXT by Firestone will conduct a doubleheader weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend with a 35-lap race on Friday and a 30-lap race on Saturday. Teenagers have dominated the first quarter of the season with 17-year-old Nikita Johnson leading the points on the strength of two wins. Two other youngsters – 18-year-old Max Taylor and 19-year-old Alessandro de Tullio have also won this season
.A record 24-car field for the INDY NXT Grand Prix of Indianapolis doubleheader is expected at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. There were 21 cars in 2024 and 2025. Two drivers who have won INDY NXT by Firestone races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are expected to compete. Andretti Global’s Lochie Hughes won one of the doubleheader races in 2025 and Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR’s Matteo Nannini won a race at IMS in 2023.A busy day of activity will greet drivers this weekend as practice and group qualifying precede Race 1. Like all road and street circuits, the Indianapolis doubleheader grid will be decided by two 10-minute groups, but with a twist. Based on the best lap times from the practice session, the fastest driver in that session will choose which group will compete in the first of the two qualifying sessions.
With 10 minutes allotted for each group (with a guarantee of one timed lap), the fastest driver between the two sessions will be awarded Race 1 pole position. The drivers who finished behind that driver, in order and in that group, will occupy the odd-numbered starting positions (3, 5, 7, etc.) for the race and the drivers who finished in order from the other group will occupy the even-numbered starting positions (2, 4, 6, etc.). The second-best laps set by each driver in their group will apply to Race 2. One driver and entrant championship point will be awarded to the fastest car in each qualifying group. 
 

Doug Boles Statement on Alex Zanardi

thepitwindowLeave a comment

IndyCar President Doug Boles issued the following statement on the passing of Alex Zanardi:

Editor’s note:

I never saw Zanardi race in person, but I enjoyed watching the telecast. He was aggressive yet measured in his approach. After his accident at Lausitzring in 2001, he became a paralympic hand cycling champion.

It is a shame that the politics of Open Wheel racing at the time prevented him from racing at Indianapolis. His face would surely have been on the Borg-Warner trophy. Alex Zanardi was a champion in competition and in life.

INDYCAR To Expand, Update Single-Car Qualifying in Firestone Fast Six for Remaining Street Circuit Events

thepitwindow

From IndyCar. The change is one that I suggested after Arlington.

  INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, April 13, 2026) – INDYCAR has announced an expansion of Firestone Fast Six single-car qualifying, including an updated format, for the remaining four street circuit events of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season beginning with the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Friday-Sunday, April 17-19 on the Streets of Long Beach.
Single-car, single-lap qualifying runs in the Firestone Fast Six made their debut Saturday, March 14 at the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. The format followed the traditional INDYCAR “knockout” format of Segments 1 and 2, which narrowed the field to six remaining qualifiers.
Moving forward, the adjustments to single-car Firestone Fast Six format will include:

Choice of qualifying order based on Segment 2 results.
The fastest qualifier from Segment 2 will be the first to choose which position they would like to make their Fast Six qualifying run with subsequent choices made for the remaining positions based on the order of Segment 2 results.

Lining up at pit out following tire declaration.Once the qualifying order is determined, teams will make their tire selection – primary or alternate tires – prior to lining up in single-file and in order of their qualifying run, at pit out to await their qualifying attempt.

During Firestone Fast Six single-car qualifying, drivers will leave pit lane and get an opportunity for one lap – starting and ending at the alternate start/finish line. Once the car enters pit lane following that driver’s attempt, the next car will be released for its attempt. As in the streets of Arlington event, tire allotments and tire rules will remain unchanged.

Single-car Firestone Fast Six qualifying also will be scheduled for the three remaining street circuit events after Long Beach, at Detroit, Markham, Ontario, and Washington, D.C. The move to single-car Fast Six qualifying is designed to create a greater opportunity to spotlight and translate the challenge and expertise required by INDYCAR SERIES teams and drivers competing for the top positions on the starting grid.

“The debut of single-car Firestone Fast Six qualifying in Arlington was extremely popular and well received,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “Following the event, we reached out to stakeholders to help evaluate the format and look into ways to improve an already exciting session. This slight update will provide the fastest from the Top 12 an earned advantage of choosing when they would like their run in the Fast Six, while tire selection before lining up at pit out will save time and more closely equalize the session.
“With continued input from teams, drivers and our partners at FOX Sports, we believe these updates will further highlight the close competition and perfection it takes to start at the front of the grid.”

As in Arlington, if the Firestone Fast Six single-car qualifying segment is impacted by weather or conditions that cause significant track surface change from one attempt to another, INDYCAR will have the following options:
Revert to standard Firestone Fast Six qualifying procedures, which features all competitors vying for the NTT P1 Award in the standard timed window.
Use the results from Segment 2 to set the starting lineup for the race.
Following the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, INDYCAR will again evaluate the updated qualifying format to determine its use and implementation in 2027.
Coverage of NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying from Long Beach is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday, April 18 on FS1, FOX One, the FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls. Coverage of Sunday’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, round five of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship, begins at 5:30 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, the FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls. 

Malukas Takes First Pole; Schumacher Grabs the Headlines

thepitwindow

Some thoughts on qualifying:

Imagine winning your first IndyCar pole yet being only the second biggest story of the day. David Malukas won the pole for the race at Phoenix this afternoon. It is a huge accomplishment for him in only his second race at Team Penske replacing the legend, Will Power. I’m sure the pole takes some pressure off of him.

A first career pole for anyone is a great story, but today, a bigger story took place. Mick Schumacher, driving in competition for the first time on an oval qualified fourth- yes 4th. Schumacher held the provisional pole through seven challenges, and he was only bested by Malukas, Josef Newgarden, and his teammate Graham Rahal.

Mick Schumacher

Will Power is off to a difficult start at Andretti Global. He crashed twice last weekend at St. Pete, and today he crashed during qualifying on his second lap. Power complained of pain in his knees after the crash, He will start in the last row tomorrow with Félix Rosenqvist, whose car did not get repaired in time to make a qualifying run.

I did not expect things to be so rough for Power. I knew it would take time to adjust to a new team, but this is beyond what anyone anticipated.

Graham Rahal had his best qualifying effort on an oval since IndyCar raced at Richmond. RLL locked out the second row with Rahal and Schumacher. RLL appears to be much improved on ovals in2026. I hope this carries over to the Indianapolis 500, where they have str4uggled lately.

Six teams qualified cars in the top 10. In addition to Penske and Rahal, McLaren place two cars near the front with Pato O’Ward seventh and Nolan Siegel ninth, Alexander Rossi placed ECR in sixth, Rinus VeeKay qualified eighth for Juncos Hollinger racing, and Alex Palou will start 10th for Ganassi.

FOXSports continues tgo treat IndyCar as a sideshow this weekend. As Malukas, the obvious pole favorite was on track for his qualifying run, FOX decided this was a good time to take up past of the screen and interview Joey Logano, a Nascar driver. They could have had a word with him while Malukas was on his cool down lap instead of interrupting one ofr the two runs I really wanted to watch today. I hope lots of IndyCar drivers get airtime during the nascar shows. End of rant.

Results

McLaughlin Pole Overshadowed by Hauger, Coyne Showing

thepitwindow

Some notes on qualifying:

Scott McLaughlin continued the fast pace he has shown all weekend and captured the pole for tomorrow’s Firestone Grand of St. Petersburg, but the buzz is all about rookie Dennis Hauger and the performance of Dale Coyne Racing.

Rookie Hauger, the 2025 IndyNXT champion who won several poles last year, will start third tomorrow in his first IndyCar race. His teammate Romain Grosjean will star sixth. Hauger is on loan to Coyne from Andretti Global, who has formed a technical alliance with Coyne. Grosjean officially got the second Coyne ride just 10 days ago.

McLaughlin led Friday’s practice and was seventh overall this morning. The pole was McLaughlin’s third at St. Pete, and he has one win. In 2025 a tire strategy call cost him the race.

Marcus Ericsson will start second, two hundredths of a second behind McLaughlin. Both front row starters have won this race, and both are coming off less than ideal seasons. Tomorrow’s race could be one of redemption for someone.

2025 St. Pete winner and series champion Alex Palou will start fourth.

David Malukas had a nice debut with Team Penske earning the fifth spot on the grid.

Newgarden’s Woes Continue

Josef Ne4wgarden hoped his win at Nashville in the 2025 season finale would provide a boost to the start of 2026. Yesterday he had an incident in practice, and he failed tom get out of the first round when his brakes locked upon his final lap. I look for him to move uo through the field tomorrow.

Results

Good Morning from St. Pete

thepitwindow

Greetings from cool, cloudy, foggy St. Petersburg as activity is already underway for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. USF 200 just completed qualifying, and Mazda MX-5 Cup cars will qualify in about 15 minutes.

As you can see from the photo, the fog has not completely left,m but the sky is getting brighter, but still cloudy. IndyCar is still scheduled for a 1:35 practice session.

The morning began with some major news. Chip Ganassi and McLaren have reached an unspecified settlement in thel awsuit in which McLaren was awarded $12 million dollars. Ganassi said he and Zak Brown had “a good conversation.”

Chip Ganassi Racing and A;ex Palou each issued statements about the settlement>

I am glad that this matter is closed. It has been a lingering cloud over the series, and I’m sure it was on Palou’s mind as well.

10 Titles

It was a treat this morning when four time series champion Dario Franchitti and six time series champ Scott Dixon mad an appearance. Dixon is looking for his first win at St. pete and his 60th career victory this season. Franchitti, retired from IndyCar since 2013, will be driving in the NASCAR Truck series race tomorrow.

Dario said he wasn’t nervous yet, but might be once he gets in the truck. Dixon was relieved that Franchitti isn’t coming back to IndyCar.

Both drivers expressed a desire to try out the Mazda MX-5 cup series some day.

Sorting

These photos are to help me mostly, but I hope it helps you keep these two cars straight starting Sunday.

Will Power is in this car:

David Malukas is in this car:

I hope this helps.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing announced a sponsor for rookie Mick Schumacher this morning.

Looking Around

As I walked around the track this morning, I noticed what seemed to be a significant increase in concessions, especially behind the first turn grandstands. It wasn’t too long ago that you mostly saw the grandstand structures and some port a potties. The area has become quite dense.

New and more numerous video boards are in place. There is one closer to turn 1, so the fans there don’t have to fight the glare of the sun to see the board just past the start/finish line across from the pits.

I will be back after IndyCar practice with a wrap up of the day.