Tire Choices- GMR Grand Prix
Ericsson Paces Warmup
Points leader Marcus Ericsson had the fastest lap in the morning warmup session for this afternoon’s GMr Grand Prix. Hondas took the first six spots and eigh of the top 10. Only the Penske Chevrolets of Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden were in the top group.
Pole sitter Chriastian Lundgaard was 13th, and Felix Rosenqvist, who starts second, was 19th.
The session ran with out interruption.
Results:
Racing Toward Zero: Month of MayTakes Major Sustainability Strides
From Penske Entertainment:
INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, May 13, 2023) – Penske Entertainment unveiled today a number of eco-friendly initiatives aiming to make this year’s Month of May – highlighted by the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge – the most sustainable on record. In particular, the Racing Capital of the World will double down on its efforts surrounding waste reduction and reusability throughout the greatest month in racing. This includes:A new partnership with Keys2Work to sort and prepare recyclable materials throughout the venue. Keys2Work is an Indianapolis-based nonprofit that helps homeless and justice-involved citizens successfully transition into the workforce.The replacement of all plastic cups in suite and hospitality areas with infinitely recyclable aluminum cups, a partnership with Penske Logistics, Novelis and Ball.A continued and elevated partnership with Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana to reduce food waste and provide for those in need. Last year, during the Month of May, nearly 4,000 pounds of unused prepared food was stored, refrigerated and sent to food banks.An expanded commitment to composting of both food and operational materials. RE317, a local women-owned business will continue hauling food scraps from catering kitchens, suites and concessions to GreenCycle, an Indianapolis composting facility. Additionally, a newly launched program will allow the IMS groundskeeping team to collect and repurpose mixed yard waste from landscaping and mowing.Retail operations will also reinforce the IMS commitment to a comprehensive focus on sustainability initiatives. New plant-based alternative retail bags have been introduced in all merchandise locations throughout the facility. Utopia Plastix, a local minority and woman-owned business, has partnered with IMS on this effort. IMS also has an expanded line of sustainability-focused merchandise and a mobile, electric-powered retail store that will roam throughout the facility during the month. “Our organization and our entire sport are extremely focused and exceedingly committed to implementing a thorough and impactful sustainability framework,” said Penske Entertainment Corp. President & CEO Mark Miles. “The Month of May provides a great opportunity to double down on existing efforts and implement new programs that make a meaningful difference in our footprint.”Both INDYCAR and IMS have taken major strides in powering a more eco-friendly future across the motorsports landscape. This year, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is using a 100% renewable race fuel, developed by Shell and composed of second-generation sugarcane waste. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the only form of competitive racing across North America using 100% renewable race fuel.The Firestone Firehawk race tires, whose sidewall is made of rubber from the guayule plant, will serve as the alternative race tire in all five-street course races this season. For the Month of May, Firestone and Shell have partnered to create a tire that uses a recycled-attributed butadiene, a monomer produced with recycled post-consumer plastic waste, to create synthetic rubber in the tire. This will be used in all race tires – practice, qualifying and race – during the Month of May. All these strides and more are recapped in Penske Entertainment’s “Accelerating Change: Racing Toward A More Sustainable, Inclusive Motorsports Industry” report, which was released earlier this morning. It is available here. IMS and INDYCAR both launched sustainability hubs today under the banner of “Racing Toward Zero.” You can visit the IMS page here and the INDYCAR page here. This year, IMS became the first sport facility to achieve organizational certification through the Council for Responsible Sport (Council). Organizational certification became available for the first time in August 2021. The new standard is based on the recognition of the following core principles: power of sport, resolution of climate change, enablement of social justice and business of sport. IMS was the first sports facility to commit to the new framework, implementing year-round tracking of environmental and social impacts for the more than 300 events hosted at IMS annually. |
GMR Grand Prix Race Day
Photo: Christian Lundgaard will lead the field to the green flag today
Tosay’s Schedule:
7:30 a.m.- 6 p.m.: Public Gates Open
8-11 a.m.: IMS Museum’s Cars & Coffee (Museum Parking Lot)
8-8:40 a.m.: USF2000 Race 2
8:55-9:45 a.m.: USF Pro 2000 Race 2
11:15-11:45 a.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm-up Peacock, Indycar Radio
Noon-12:40 p.m.: USF2000 Race 3
1:05 p.m.: INDY NXT by Firestone “Drivers Start Your Engines”
1:10 p.m.: INDY NXT by Firestone Race (35 laps or 55 minutes) Peacock
2:55 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver introductions
3:39 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES “Drivers Start Your Engines”
3:45 p.m.: GMR Grand Prix Race (85 laps) Peacock, Indycar Radio
NBC and peacock coverage begins at 3:30 pm Eastern
The weather outlook calls for a slight chance od an isolated showwer between 3 and 4 pm.and a high around 82 degrees.
There is a good chance we see a second first time winner this season, and a winner from a team that has has not had much success of late.
I’llbe back after the morning warmup with rsults and starting tire selections.
Lundgaard Pole Leads Rahal Resurgence
Photo by Kyle McIness
Christian Lundgaard’s first career pole capped a rebound day for Rahal Letterman Laniugan Racing. The team has floundered this season in qualifying, but today all three drivers were in the mix in every session. All three- Lundgaard,Jack Harvey, and Graham Rahal- advance the round of 12. Lundraagd and Harvey moved on to the Fast Six. Harvey will start fourth tomorrow and Rahal lines up eighth.
Felix Rosenqvist starts second on Saturday, missing the pole bu just0.0027 seconds. The difference between Lundgaard’s time and sixth place Kyle Kirkwood was 0.2971 seconds, one of the closest since the Fast 6 format began.
Unususal Fast 12
Round 2 feaqtured all of the drivers from three different teams. I don’t recall three entire teams making the round of 12 before. The complete squad from Ganassi-Scott Dixon, Alex palou, Marcus Ericsson, and Marcus Armstrong; all the Arrow McLaren drivers- Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi, and Rosenqvist; and the Rahal crew.
Kyle Kirkwood from Andretti and Will Power from Penske filled out the 12 spots. Kirkwood advanced.
Where is Penske?
Five poles have been awarded this season, but none to a Penske driver. Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin each have a fourth place start, and McLaughlin also has a sixth place in qualifying. New garden has yet to make a Fast Six on a road or street course.
Andretti Woes
Today was the worst qualifying day of the ear for Andretti. Colton Herta’s oil line fire in the morning practice seemed to set the tone for the day. Kirkwood was the only driver to advance to the second round.. Romain Grosjean, who has twompoles this season, will satrt 18th.
Starting Lineup
Qualifying Groups-GMR Grand Prix
Palou Leads Session 2, Helio Loses Engine
Alex Palou Turned the fastest lap as session 2 came to a close as teams and drivers made final preparations for qualifiying for the GMR Grand Prix. The practice was green the entire time.
Helio Castroneves lost an engine about halfwaythrought the session but was able to get his car to a spot off track to avoid a red flag. The engine was a new one the team had plannee to use for qualifying for themIndianapolis 500.
Pato O’Ward, who led the morning practice, was third this afternoon. All four Ganassi cars again ended in the top 10,with rookie Marcus Armstrong fourth.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing continued their strong morning with Christian Lundgaard in second and Jack Harvey fifth. harvey also ended the morning round in fifth. The IMS road course is site of Harvey’s best career finish, a third place in2017.
Castroneves’ engine is the second problem today for an Andretti autosport related car. Kyle Kirkwood has led the team in both sessions. He was 12th this mornng and 13th this afternoon.
A New Look in the Plaza
In 2022 the Speedway and Caesar’s made a splashy announcement of a Caesar’s betting parlor on the south side of the plaza. My undertanding is that there was a multi year deal in place. As I walked through the Pagoda Plaza this afternoon, I noticed the caesar’s space is now a Grab nGo Market. Ilearned that Caesar’s decided not to come back. It appeared to be a popular spot last May.
Next uo is qualifying at 4 pm Eastern. Qualifying groups should be out soon.
Results
O’Ward Tops Practice 1
Pato O’Ward turned the quickest lap in the lpening practice for the GMR bGrand Prix this morning. The Arrow McLaren driver posted a lap of 1:09.4981. Five different teams had a car in nthe top 10. Ganassi had three drivers- Alex Palou, Marcus Ericsson, and Scott Dixon finishing third, seventh, and eighth.
Colton Herta came into the pits after his install lap with a fire on the rear side. It was likely caused by an oil leak. The crew fixed the car and they returned to mpit lane with about five minutes left in the session. Herta went out formone install lap.
Romainn Grosjean, one of the favorites to win tomorrow,ended the session in16th.
Rhahal Letterman Laqnigan drivers Christian Lundgaard and Jack Harvey, were second and fifth, respectively. Graham rahal was 13th. the nteam haqd been struggling for speed eaqrly in nthe season. They showed a slight improvement at Barber, and tioday it appears they have found whatnthey need.
New Improved Mounds
The viewing mounds in turns 1 and 2 have a new look. They have been combined into one sweeping mound that is higher, offering a better view. The new mound runs from turn allthe way the exit of turn 2. It slopes downward a bit as you go toward turn 2. It is a great improvement.
Results
Opening Day at IMS- GMR Grand Prix Weekend
Today’s Schedule:
| Friday, May 12 |
| INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, May 11, 2023) – Information about GMR Grand Prix track activity Friday, May 12 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway :SCHEDULE (All times local): 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.: Public gates open 8-8:30 a.m.: USF2000 qualifying 8:45-9:15 a.m.: USF Pro 2000 qualifying 9:30-10:45 a.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1 11-11:50 a.m.: INDY NXT by Firestone practice 1 12:05-12:45 p.m.: USF2000 Race 1 1-2 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 2:20-2:40 p.m.: INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying 2:55-3:45 p.m.: USF Pro 2000 race 1 4-5:15 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying/Firestone Fast Six |
Rain is forecast off and on today, and tomorrow looks to be mostly dry. Look for reports after each practice and after qualifying. I plan to check out the new, improved Turn 2 monuds weather permitting.
Some news:
Toby Sowery will test an Indycar with Rahal Letterman Lanuigan Racing June 8 at Sebring.
Ernie Francis ahd withdrawn from the Indy NXT race due to his hand injury suffered at Barber.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 