Christian Rasmussen hit the wall coming out of turn and slid to the inside grassy area. It was a gentle hit and slide. The rest of the practice was clean. Alex Palou was fastest. Pole sitter Robert Shwartzman was 26th.
It’s a shame that what should be a huge celebratory pole win has been overshadowed by the Team Penske scandal. Robert Shwartzman’s pole, the first by a rookie since Teo Fabi in 1983, should be the talk of the fans and the paddock.
Instead, we are discussing the second Penske cheating issue in as many years. I agree with the penalties handed down this morning by IndyCar, and I appreciate their quick action. As Doug Boles said this morning,
“(the 500) is the biggest race in the world, and integrity is paramount…”
From earlier
So, back to the weekend. I’m not sure why Rinus VeeKay went out for a second run and risked putting himself out of the race. If did it to run out the clock, he went too early. There was plenty of time left for Jacob Abel to still have another attempt.
Questions:
Why is RLL’s one off entry for the 500 always the fastest qualifier on the team?
How is David Malukas 10 spots better than Santino Ferrucci?
Should the qualifying format be tweaked?
I’ll answer the last question. A little bit. Each car should be limited to no more than four attempts on Saturday. Any time a car goes out for an attempt, their current time is erased.
IndyCar on FOX: I watched just a part of the broadcast last night, and I saw the Colton Herta interview. Send Chris Myers back to Daytona. He looked and sounded bored, and as if he really didn’t want to be here. Colton had to correct him as to the name of the race. His response was that he works the Daytona 500. Leigh Diffey called the Indy 500 and he never confuses IMS for Daytona. I found Myers to be unprofessional and I hope he is not here Sunday.
To end on a positive not: It’s RACE WEEK!
| Hang onto your hats, folks. |
| INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, May 19, 2025) – Yesterday, INDYCAR’s focus was ensuring that the series had all the facts related to the discovery of the modified attenuators on the Team Penske entries of Nos. 2 and 12 to verify they were in violation of INDYCAR Rule 14.7.8.16. After the series confirmed the technical infraction, by rule, the violating cars were placed in the last positions of the qualifying session for which they qualified. Upon further review last night and early this morning, INDYCAR will be moving cars No. 2 and 12 to the 32nd and 33rd starting positions for this year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. They will start in order based upon their qualifying times from Saturday. “The integrity of the Indianapolis 500 is paramount, and this violation of the INDYCAR rule against modification to this part and using it ‘as supplied’ is clear,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “The penalty should be more than simply starting where the cars might have qualified anyway, if given the opportunity. The cars belong in the field as two of the fastest 33; however, starting on the tail of the field is the appropriate penalty in this instance.” Car No. 3 did not attempt to qualify Sunday in the Top 12 because of an accident in the earlier afternoon’s practice. Upon review of the car, and INDYCAR impounding the No. 3 attenuator, INDYCAR found that the car was in fact using a legal and unmodified attenuator. Therefore, car No. 3 will start in the 10th spot – the final spot of those who had qualified to participate in the Top 12. Additionally, INDYCAR is suspending the team strategists for the Nos. 2 and 12 for the remainder of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, both cars will forfeit Indianapolis 500 qualification points and each entry has been fined $100,000. Car Nos. 2 and 12 also will forfeit their pit positions and will select their pit boxes after the remainder of the field has an opportunity to adjust accordingly. “The positive momentum around the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500 has been on a steep crescendo over the last several months, and we want it to be clear that our intent is to maintain that momentum and discourage teams from putting INDYCAR in positions where it calls into the integrity of our officiating and the levelness of the playing field,” Boles said. “As we look to the remainder of the week and the race this weekend, we will do everything we can to make it clear that this is not only the best racing on the planet but racing where the best win under completely fair conditions.” |
| Monday, May 19 |
| INDIANAPOLIS Information about 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying track activity Monday, May 19 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway: SCHEDULE (All times local): 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Public gates open 1-3 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $25. The general admission ticket will provide the opportunity to move between the IMS infield viewing mounds and first-come, first-served access to selected grandstands to view racing action from different vantage points. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Separate ticket required for entry each day.PUBLIC GATES OPEN (11 a.m.-3 p.m.): Gate 2, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7, Gate 7S, Gate 10, Gate 10A.PARKING: Free public parking is available in N Lot. Free ADA accessible parking is available in the West Museum Lot, Tower Lot, and Flag Lot. Free motorcycle parking is available in South Carousel Lot.CASHLESS OPERATIONS: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a cashless facility. Please be prepared to complete your ticket, credentials, parking, concession and merchandise purchases with ease during your event via debit or credit card.Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions. Cash-to-Card machines, which convert paper money onto a temporary debit card, will be located in the IMS Museum, Pagoda Plaza and outside Turn 1 by concessions stand 7. These funds can be spent inside the venue, outside the venue, online or anywhere in the world where Mastercard/Visa debit cards are accepted.MUSEUM: The IMS Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission tickets are $25, seniors (55 and over) are $23, and military (former and active) are $18. Tickets can be purchased online at https://imsmuseum.org/tickets/. Gate admission must be purchased as well as Museum admission. |
From earlier
The smile never left his face during the press conference. He seemed eerily calm considering that he had just rocked the IndyCar world.
Robert Shwartzman reflected on his pole winning run.
“I was just thinking in my dreams fantasizing, How will it feel
to take pole position in Indy 500? How is the vibe? Then I
was, like, Yeah, Robert, get back to reality. You have a
new car, new team, you are a rookie. How can you expect
to be in this position? It’s just in your dreams.
But still I was keeping that tiny dream deep inside like
maybe, maybe.”
It was am improbable result for a driver and team that quite honestly looked lost the first five races of the season and was near the bottom of the speed charts in Tuesday’s opening practice.
Shwartzman first saw the Indianapolis 500 while in Monaco during the F1 weekend.
“I was just as a kid, let’s say, just watching the Formula 1 race, and at the same time it was going the Indy 500 race. So, there was
my friends and sponsors, and they invited me to a yacht,
like the part of Monaco. I was just sitting there. It was no
Formula 1 running. It was actually after the race of
Formula 1. Normally Monaco is quite boring, as we know.
There is not many possibilities of overtaking. It’s more
quallie race for me.
Then we were just sitting there, and on the TV there was
Indy 500 race running there. Honestly I was just looking. It
was so much more exciting. I was just, like, Damn, until
last turn you don’t know who is going to win. I was being
like, Okay, this guy is fast, he’s going to win, and then all of
a sudden, no, he’s getting overtaken and then another guy
and another guy. The rotation is always changing.
That was the first member, Damn, this is amazing. This is
proper battle.”
On Shwartzman’s team is chief engineer Eric Leichtle, who was Josef Newgarden’s engineer in 2022, and Ryan Briscoe is his driver coach.
In answer to a question about the situation in Israel, his homeland, Shwartzman called for peace.
“I just want peace in the world. I want people to be good, and I don’t want the separation of countries saying this is bad country, this is
good country. There is no bad or good. We’re all human
beings. We just have to support each other and respect
each other.”
Any concerns I had about a rookie leading the field to green melted away with that statement. Shwartzman will be fine, and he has another dream to fulfill.
I will have a full qualification wrap up later today.
I have witnessed many wild last days of qualifying, and May 18, 2025, will go down as one of the wildest. A rookie on pole for the first time in 42 years, a top team failing to get on track to try for the pole, a top contender crashing in practice made for a day of swirling emotions.
Robert Shwartzman, a rookie driver on a rookie team, will lead the field to the green flag next Sunday. He struggled to find speed the first three days of practice and was on most people’s list to be the bumped car.
The day began with Scott McLaughlin crashing heavily in turn two. The impact tore the left rear wheel off of the car and gouged the track. McLaughlin was cleared to drive, but the car would not be ready in time. to qualify.
Penske’s woes were not over. Josef Newgarden’s car failed tech and was excluded from qualifying. Will Power’s car was also withdrawn for the same issue. The teams had violated a rule by modifying the attenuator. They had filled in the seams. Team Penske will start in the fourth row. McLaughlin will start10th, Newgarden 11th, and Power 12th.
Shwartzman’s run to the fast 12, then the Fast Six, is an incredible tale. At the media availability after qualifying, Shwartzman said he dreamed of winning the pole, but then told himself to “get back to reality.”
Iwill have more on him tomorrow in my Qualifications wrap up. Thanks for following along this weekend.
Another large crash early in this morning’s practice eliminated Scott McLaughlin’s chances for a second consecutive pole position. On his fourth lap McLaughlin spun in turn 2, hit the wall and got airborne but did not turn over. The impact tore the keft rear tire from the car and gouged a hole in the track. McLaughlin was released from the infield care center. The team is building a new car and will not participate today’s qualifying. McLaughlin will start 12th in the Indianapolis 500 next Sunday.
McLaughlin had just turned a lap at 233,557 which stood as the vest of the session. Scott Dixon was the only other driver above 233 mph. Only 10 of the 12 cars turned laps. Marcus Ericsson and Robert Shwartzman did not appear.
In the hour allotted to the cars vying for the last row, Marcus Armstrong was quickest with a lap of 229.776. Jacob Abel was slowest at 227.796.
Good morning from IMS. Fans are already streaming in for the 1 pm practice.
To review the procedure, the Fast 12 cars practice for one hour, followed by the four cars in the Last Chance Qualifying.
During the qualifying runs, cars make attempts in inverse order of their speeds from yesterday.
The qualifying order
Waving the Green
Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White will wave the green flag to start today’s program. White is beginning her second stint coaching the Fever, whose season started yesterday with a 93-58 win over Chicago.
White, Aliyah Boston, and Makayla Timpson met with media this morning.
I have heard mixed reviews of FOX qualification coverage. The main issues fan had were the channel switching, full screen commercials, and full screen interviews while cars were on track.
FOX has seemed to be responsive to suggestions so far, and I hope they listen to these complaints. Frankly, from the races I’ve seen on television this year, I’m concerned about the quality of next Sunday’s broadcast.
At the very least, I hope to see a pit stop timer. All interviews and breaks should be side by side, and no commercials the last 15 laps.
I’ll be back with a post practice report a little after 3.
From IMS:
| Sunday, May 18 |
| INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, May 17, 2025) – Information about 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying track activity Sunday, May 18 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway: SCHEDULE (All times local): 10 a.m.-7 p.m.: Public gates open 1-3 p.m.: Practice. Top 12 Qualifying participants from 1-2 p.m., Last Chance Qualifying participants from 2-3 p.m FS2 .4:05 p.m.: Top 12 Qualifying5:15-6:15 p.m.: Last Chance Qualifying 6:25 p.m.: Firestone Fast Six Qualifying FOX 4-7 TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $35. The general admission ticket will provide the opportunity to move between the IMS infield viewing mounds and first-come, first-served access to selected grandstands to view racing action from different vantage points. Free entry for all military personnel with a valid military ID. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Separate ticket required for entry each day. PUBLIC GATES OPEN (10 a.m.-7 p.m.): Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 3, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7, Gate 7S, Gate 9, Gate 10, Gate 10A, Gate 11A PARKING: Free public parking is available in Turn 3 and Lot 7 (North 40). Free ADA accessible parking is available in the following lots: West Museum Lot, Flag Lot, Tower Lot, Northwest Gravel Lot and Lot 7 (North 40). Free motorcycle parking is available in South Carousel Lot. Paid parking is available for $10 in Lot 2, Main Gate Lot, Lot 3P and $20 in Gate 1. Paid ADA parking is available for $10 in Lot 2 and Lot 3P and $20 in Gate 1 Lot .CASHLESS OPERATIONS: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a cashless facility. Please be prepared to complete your ticket, credentials, parking, concession and merchandise purchases with ease during your event via debit or credit card.Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions. Cash-to-Card machines, which convert paper money onto a temporary debit card, will be located in the IMS Museum, Pagoda Plaza and outside Turn 1 by concessions stand 7. These funds can be spent inside the venue, outside the venue, online or anywhere in the world where Mastercard/Visa debit cards are accepted. MUSEUM: The IMS Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission tickets are $25, seniors (55 and over) are $23, and military (former and active) are $18. Tickets can be purchased online at https://imsmuseum.org/tickets/. Gate admission must be purchased as well as Museum admission. |
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 