Verizon Commits $6 Million To Support Veteran Debt Relief with Team Penske, Indianapolis Colts

thepitwindow

From IMS and IndyCar:

  Driving Innovation, Tackling Veteran Debt Relief Across Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, April 23, 2025) – Today at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Verizon, Team Penske and the Indianapolis Colts announced a $6 million commitment to tackle veteran debt in Indiana over the next two years.This initiative includes a $4 million collaboration with Team Penske during the Month of May.
One million dollars in veteran debt relief has been committed for 2025, with an additional $1 million contingent on Will Power, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, finishing in the top 10 at the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
An additional $2 million in debt relief will be provided in collaboration with the Indianapolis Colts over the next two seasons.
“This partnership between Verizon, Team Penske and the Indianapolis Colts represents a unique opportunity to address veteran debt relief while showcasing innovation and excellence,” said Andy Brady, president of Verizon’s Great Lakes Market.
“Together, we aim to make a lasting impact on the lives of the veterans across Indiana, both on the racetrack and in the community.”
Significant Technology Investment Powers the Racing Experience
As part of this commitment, Verizon has made a significant technological infrastructure at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This investment includes:
Comprehensive upgrade to the Distributed Antenna System (DAS).
Modernization of all wireless capabilities with new 4G equipment and addition of 5G coverage across 71 zones throughout the facility.
Enhanced high-capacity antennas to support the massive data demands during race events.
Improved connectivity at main gate areas to streamline ticketing and enhance the fan entry experience.
These technological advancements ensure that fans, teams and media can stay connected throughout the race events while enabling innovative new racing applications and improved spectator experiences.
“Verizon has always been a leader in innovation and a company that makes a difference in people’s lives,” said Roger Penske, founder and chairman of Team Penske.
“Verizon’s commitment to helping veterans through this debt relief initiative is a testament to their values and dedication to creating positive change. At Team Penske, we are proud to stand with Verizon in supporting those who have served our country and creating meaningful change for our veterans.”
The 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 25 at IMS. Fans can tune into the FOX network broadcast beginning at 10 a.m. ET as 2018 winner
Power attempts to win his second Indy 500 and secure another $1 million in debt relief for Central Indiana veterans.
“Verizon’s dedication to innovation and reliability is second to none, and the Indianapolis Colts are honored to partner with a brand that truly takes care of its community,” said Carlie Irsay-Gordon, vice chair/owner of the Indianapolis Colts.
“This collaboration represents the best of what teamwork and shared values can achieve, supporting those who have served our nation while making a lasting impact across Indiana.”
Veteran Debt Relief
As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting veterans, Verizon continues its initiative to relieve debt across the Great Lakes region through its partnership with ForgiveCo. Building on previous successes, Verizon is now focusing on Indianapolis, aiming to alleviate up to $6 million in veteran debt. This effort is part of a broader $22 million debt relief program across the Great Lakes over the next two years.
In 2024, Verizon successfully relieved more than $4 million in debt for over 4,800 veterans.
“At Verizon, we believe in honoring our veterans not just with words, but with action,” Brady said. “Relieving up to $6 million in veteran debt in Indianapolis is a testament to our dedication to providing meaningful support to those who have given so much for our country.”
Those receiving this debt relief will be contacted by ForgiveCo., a company that identifies and handles the clearing of debt for veterans in need. There is no enrollment process for eligibility.Verizon currently employs more than 8,000 veterans nationwide and is nationally recognized as a Military Friendly company for seven years in a row.Verizon also provides special offers and discounts to veterans and military members across the nation, allowing them to save on mobile or home internet plans.
To check for discount eligibility and to get started, visit verizon.com/military or visit a local participating Verizon store for details. 

IMS Open Test Preview

thepitwindow

Today’s schedule

Install laps 10 am

Veteran drivers: 10:05 a.m.-noon
Rookie Orientation Program and refresher tests: noon-2 p.m.
All drivers: 2-6 p.m.

Streaming on IndyCar You Tube channel; live timing and scoring on IndyCar app.

Turn 2 mounds and SE Vista open for viewing.

Parking in Lot 3A.

Weather will not be an issue, with temperatures reaching 80 both today and tomorrow.\

As testing gets underway this morning, I’m looking for a few things over the next two days.

How will PREMA perform in their first big oval run?

Is RLL back in the game?

Will hybrid slow qualifying speeds?

Tomorrow morning’s high boost qualifying sims should provide answers to the last question, but we need to keep in mind that this April, not qualifying weekend.

PREMA will get lots of track time as Robert Shwartzman runs his rookie test. I think today will be a shakedown for them.

How RLL will stack up is another question. The team has struggled the last two years at the 500. I want to see them be competitive again.

It will be nice to see cars on the oval for the first time in 2025. I wish they could tack these days onto the May schedule.

I will be onsite and provide updates during the course of the day, There were some more livery reveals yesterday, and Team Penske is having a press conference in a few minutes.

I’l be back with details in a bit. If you’re coming to the track, be safe, hydrate, and wear sunscreen.

Andretti, McLaren 500 Liveries Revealed

thepitwindow

Andretti Global and MacLaren unveiled liveries for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500. Andretti presented the colors for thgeir one off entry, the 98 which Marco Andretti will drive. It is basically the same as last year’s car.

McLaren has gone with a new look for each of its three entries.

Pato O’Ward
Nolan Siegel
Christian Lundgaard

I like that McLaren has made each car distinct. These three entries are the best looking McLarens for the 500 to date. I thought their throwback liveries missed the mark a bit.

I’m not sure if these liveries will be on display in the test sessions this week, but I am looking forward to seeing them in May.

Open Test Schedule

thepitwindow

Wednesday, April 23, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (ET)
Veteran drivers: 10:05 a.m.-noon
Rookie Orientation Program and refresher tests: noon-2 p.m.
All drivers: 2-6 p.m.
Thursday, April 24, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET)
“High Boost” Session: 9:30 a.m.-noon
All drivers: 2-5 p.m.

The test will be streamed on the INDYCAR YouTube channel. Live timing will be available on INDYCAR.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
The Southeast Vista grandstands and the Turn 2 Viewing Mounds will be open for public viewing during the test. Due to the IMS Museum’s recent reopening, guests will park across 16th Street in Lot 3P and will enter through Gate 3. Guests with an ADA parking placard will park in the Front Museum Lot and sit in South Terrace East. Security will be on site to assist fans with crossing 16th Street. Concessions and merchandise will be available for purchase.

INDYCAR Updates Replacement Driver Status for Indianapolis 500 

thepitwindow

From Indycar:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, April 17, 2025) – INDYCAR has informed race teams of a procedural update involving eligible drivers ahead of the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
During a recent Team Manager call, teams were made aware that a replacement driver would be eligible with the following parameters:
A replacement driver will only be considered if the primary (entered) driver also is participating in another marquee event with the driver’s principal racing series on Indianapolis 500 Race Day.
The INDYCAR-approved veteran replacement driver is eligible for and passes the Indianapolis Motor Speedway refresher program in the entry during the first day of Indianapolis 500 practice.
Additional tires for the refresher program will not be allowed for the Indianapolis 500 entry. The tire allotment for each entrant is 32 sets for the event. Any tires used for the refresher program will be taken from the allotted tires to that entry.
During the refresher program, minimal setup changes will be allowed.
After the replacement driver completes the required phases of the refresher program, additional laps during the session will not be permitted.
Once INDYCAR is notified that a team will use its replacement driver for the Indianapolis 500, the entry’s qualified position is forfeited, and the car will start at the rear of the starting lineup and ordered according to Rule 8.1.8.6.
A qualified driver, who is officially replaced by the team, may return and compete with that entry provided the replacement driver has not participated in a session other than the refresher program. The car’s starting position will remain at the rear of the field with the starting lineup ordered according to Rule 8.1.8.6.
The 2025 INDYCAR rulebook will be updated to reflect these changes.
The 109th Indianapolis 500, round five of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship, is Sunday, May 25. Coverage begins at 10 a.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes and the FOX Sports app. The award-winning INDYCAR Radio Network is available on SiriusXM channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
The next NTT INDYCAR SERIES race is the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix on Sunday, May 4. Coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network. 

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Teams to Participate in Indy 500 Open Test April 23-24 at IMS 

thepitwindow

From IMS. Some added amenities for fans. Streaming for those at home. Bold print added by the editor.

 In preparation for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers will participate in an Open Test from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (ET) Wednesday, April 23 and 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, April 24 on the famed 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
On Wednesday, veterans will take to the oval from 10:05 a.m.-noon, with Rookie Orientation Program and refresher tests from noon-2 p.m. and all participants on track from 2-6 p.m.
All cars are scheduled to be on track from 9:30 a.m.-noon Thursday for a “high boost” session – with increased engine boost levels available during a session similar to “Fast Friday” during the Month of May – and from 2-5 p.m. for further testing.
The test will be streamed on the INDYCAR YouTube channel. Live timing will be available on INDYCAR.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
The Southeast Vista grandstands and the Turn 2 Viewing Mounds will be open for public viewing during the test. Due to the IMS Museum’s recent reopening, guests will park across 16th Street in Lot 3P and will enter through Gate 3. Guests with an ADA parking placard will park in the Front Museum Lot and sit in South Terrace East. Security will be on site to assist fans with crossing 16th Street. Concessions and merchandise will be available for purchase.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES teams, drivers scheduled to participate:
AJ Foyt Racing – Santino Ferrucci, David Malukas
Andretti Global – Marco Andretti, Marcus Ericsson, Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood
Arrow McLaren – Kyle Larson, Christian Lundgaard, Pato O’Ward, Nolan Siegel
Chip Ganassi Racing – Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Kyffin Simpson
Dale Coyne Racing –Jacob Abel, Rinus VeeKay
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports – Jack Harvey, Ryan Hunter-Reay
Ed Carpenter Racing – Ed Carpenter, Christian Rasmussen, Alexander Rossi
Juncos Hollinger Racing – Conor Daly, Sting Ray Robb
Meyer Shank Racing – Marcus Armstrong, Helio Castroneves, Felix Rosenqvist
PREMA Racing – Callum Ilott, Robert Shwartzman
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing –Devlin DeFrancesco, Louis Foster, Graham Rahal, Takuma Sato
Team Penske – Scott McLaughlin, Josef Newgarden, Will Power

Wednesday, April 23, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (ET)
Veteran drivers: 10:05 a.m.-noon
Rookie Orientation Program and refresher tests: noon-2 p.m.
All drivers: 2-6 p.m.
Thursday, April 24, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET)
“High Boost” Session: 9:30 a.m.-noon
All drivers: 2-5 p.m.

Long Beach Wrap Up

thepitwindow

Fifty consecutive races at the same venue is something to celebrate, and The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach honored its legacy in style. Historic cars representing the three formulae that have run in the Grand Prix- Formula 5000, F1, and Indycar- held two races. Six-time winner Al Unser, Jr. and four-time winner Mario Andretti were on hand to give the command. Echoes of the past were prevalent throughout the track and convention center.

In the modern era record weekend crowd of more than 200,000 spectators were many who had come back to the race after years of being away. I talked to Keith from Palm Desert, California, who attended the first F1 race in 1976. He has been to several Indianapolis 500s. Currently F1 is his favorite series, and he wanted to be in Long Beach for the 50th race. Keith told me how the track used run along Ocean Boulevard in its early days.

On each of my three trips to Long Beach, I have met car crazy race fans. My favorite memory was on my first trip when I met two brothers who watched Bill Vukovich race midgets at Ascot Park when they were kids. I wasn’t writing this blog then, but I wish I could have spent more time with those guys and recorded some of their stories. I assume they have passed on by now.

Back to the present. The race was a great race for the hard-core fan, but I’m not sure a new fan would be impressed. there was some early action and a late pass for a podium spot by Christian Lundgaard, but not a lot of intrigue at the top.

The Start

Long beach rolling starts have always been ragged, and Sunday’s was no exception. Only about a third of the field was in formation. Part of the problem is the field has to round the slowest turn on the schedule and line up before the green. It is an impossible task.

My friend Chris DeHarde of Frontstretch makes a good argument for a standing start. I agree with him. Other possibilities are a rolling start on Pine Street or moving the start line further toward turn one. The start and finish line do not have to be at the same place.

FOX Broadcast- Better but not Yet 500 Worthy

I watched the replay of the FOX broadcast last night. It was their best presentation of the three. The driver’s eye camera provided some wonderful shots and perspectives, and I thought the booth crew did a better job of telling the story of the race. James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell broke the race down clearly and in plain language.

I like their showing of the cars and liveries in the driver introductions.

Many of the early passes were shown, and unlike an F1 broadcast, the leader appeared on screen enough that we remembered who was at the front.

Josef Newgarden’s seat belt issues got the attention they deserved.

One thing still missing is a pit stop timer. It is crucial that this clock is in place for the 500. I would also like to see the laps of the top two cars timed simultaneously once in a while.

The thing I enjoyed the most is that the winner can get right out of the car in Victory Lane without having to wait for a signal from a TV producer. The celebration was more spontaneous.

Overall, a much better job by FOX. They have two more chances to refine their race show before the big one. I think they’ll make it.

NOTE – IndyCar has a full field oval test at IMS April 23 and 24. Turn 2 mounds are open for viewing. Part of Wednesday is devoted to rookie orientation and refresher tests.

Quick Thoughts- Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

thepitwindow

Photo by Joe Skibinski

For those who enjoy tactical races, this one was a beauty. Several pit strategies were in play, but Kyle Kirkwood’s crew made he right calls. Kirkwood won his third career race and second Long Beach Grand Prix in three years.

There was some passing and some contact, but nothing that warranted a caution. In three 2025 races, the only caution took place at the start of the season opener at St. Pete. Christian Lundgaard thinks the hybrid has contributed o the lack of cautions since the drivers can refire the cars. Plaou thinks it is just a coincidence.

Kirkwood drove a masterful race. He maintained pace and there was perfect execution in the pits.

Kirkwood said that winning the 50th Long Beach Grand Prix was “massive.” He thanked Honda for their efforts over the off season, which led to improvements.

Top Drives

Christian Lundgaard drove a great race as one the six drivers starting on primary tires. His tire choice got him to the front and he stayed in the lead group all day.

Felix Rosenqvist finished where he started in fourth. He lost third to Lundgaard near the end of the race.

Will Power had another great drive, finishing fifth from 13th onn the starting grid. If Power can qualify in the top 12 or six, he will probably win a race or two.

Notes

Kirkwood is now second in points, just 34 points behind Palou. Lundgaard, in third is slightly more than a race behind Palou.

Josef Newgarden’s seat belt issue is the second for Team Penske in the last four races. Will Power had the same problem at Nashville in the 2024 season finale. I find this concerning that one team has had this problem twice over such a brief number of races.

There were 169 passes and 9 lead changes among six drivers, the most since 2012.

Unlike many races I have attended, most ofthe fans in the stands between turns 9 and 10 stayed for the entire race. Incan think of several tracks where fans began leaving before the halfway point.

Thanks for following along this weekend. Tomorrow is a travel day. On Tuesday I will have a wrap-up of this historic weekend.