Weather- Forecasted high of 64 degrees this afternoon after a stormy night. Rain should not be a factor during the test.
Today and tomorrow mark the unofficial opening of the track for May. Given the IndyCar schedule this year, I wonder why this test couldn’t have been conducted early next week, you know, when it is actually MAY. .IIn the years when the race id on the 24th I always feel like we get gypped out of a whole week of May. Fortunately, t5his occurs occasionally, and the following year the Indianapolis 500 assumes its rightful and proper date on the calendar of May 30.
I would not read too much into the speeds over the next two days. conditions will be cooler than they will be in three weeks, and we don’t know what each team is looking for this week.
Juncos Hollinger, Dreyer & Reinbold Form Partnership
A technical alliance and co entry arrangement was announced yesterday between full time team Juncos Hollinger Racing and Indy only team Dreyer &Reinbold. The link to the full story is here:
There is a limerick by Edward Lear with the line, “…It is just as I feared,” and I recalled it Saturday when i saw the following blurb from Adam Stern:
“Beginning with the 2027 IndyCar Series season, entry fields at all races outside of the Indianapolis 500 will be limited to chartered teams only. This decision was reached after thoughtful consideration with key stakeholders and, in particular, series suppliers who are making plans for the upcoming season as all parties look to build the series’ health and on-track competition.”
This scenario was one of my first concerns when IndyCar announced its charter system which took effect with the 2025 season. I had a feeling that charters would eventually lead to a closed shop and here we are, beginning next year
If a team doesn’t have a charter, they will not be allowed to race at any event other than the Indianapolis 500. The team known as Prema will likely not be seen again, unless its new owners decide to enter the 111th running of the 500.
Dreyer and Reinbold’s plans of someday entering races other than Indianapolis have been dashed. They will remain an Indy only team for as long as they wish, but no more. It’s a hollow reward for a team that has been loyal to the series and previously ran full time.
Non charter teams entering the Indianapolis 500 receive only $100,000 for making the race unless their car does extremely well in the race. How many will reconsider since they will take a loss?
I’m not sure this move adds value to the charters as IndyCar believes it will. Charter teams are guaranteed a spot in every race other than Indianapolis. Leaders’ Circle money won’t increase, and an owner who really wants out will probably take a lower price just to be done with it.
Othe unintended consequences I see:
Third OEM Less Likely
Chevy and Honda were each granted a charter beginning in 2028 and will pair with an existing two car team. A third OEM would want the same deal, raising the grid to 28. Does engine number three take a charter from the worst performing team? Does IndyCar ask for volunteers?
I don’t see this situation as attractive to another brand. The brevity of the IndyCar statement leaves a lot of contingencies unanswered.
New Blood
IndyCar could lose a generation of young drivers under the new policy. Does this undermine the value of an Indy NXT championship? There is very little room the champion of the top ladder series to enter the grid now. Linus Lundqvist still hasn’t found a full time home. Andretti Global has had to loan out its last two Ondy NXT champs, Kyle Kirkwood and Dennis Hauger, to other teams until the team had an opening.
Safer cars, which I am grateful for, have prolonged careers. I can see two former Indianapolis 500 winners driving in their final race May 24.
Current drivers aren’t getting any younger. Will Power and Scott Dixon are 45 years old, and Romain Grosjean is 38,
Five of the eight one-off drivers in this year’s 500 are receiving adds for their AARP cards. Helio Castroneves will be 50 by race day, Takuma Sato is 49, and Ryan Hunter-Reay, Ed Carpenter, and Katherine Legge are 45 years old,
With no seats available, the younger drivers will turn to other series, and likely will not return to IndyCar.
Adding Charter Value While Keeping Things Open
As my three readers know, I enjoy spending IndyCar’s money. Here I go again with some ideas to make the charters more valuable while allowing open entries all season.
For the 500: A minimum of $200,00 for one-off entries; a minimum of$300,000 for charter teams.
For the season: Expand the leaders’ Circle to include all charter teams and give performance bonuses based on the season standings. Pay any non-charter entrants who qualify for a race a minimum amount.
The Indianapolis 500 has always been an open event except for the IRL years. IndyCar has always welcomed all comers to their events. The open philosophy is something the series should embrace, not try to eliminate.
INDIANAPOLIS, April 27, 2026 —Veteran driver Katherine Legge has been entered by HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 (Indy 500). She will once again be fueled by primary sponsor e.l.f. Cosmetics, a brand from e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE:ELF), the bold disrupter with a kind heart. As the only woman entered in this year’s 500-mile race, Legge continues a legacy that traces back to trailblazer Janet Guthrie — and uniquely, to four-time Indy 500 winner and team owner A.J. Foyt.
No. 11 e.l.f. Cosmetics Chevrolet RenderingNearly 50 years ago in May 1976, Guthrie fought to earn her place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). After facing skepticism and extraordinary scrutiny, Guthrie was given a pivotal opportunity when A.J. Foyt allowed her to test one of his backup cars — a moment widely credited with changing perceptions of what women could achieve in motorsport. One year later, Guthrie became the first woman to qualify for and compete in the Indy 500, the same race in which Foyt won his record-setting fourth 500. Now, in a full-circle moment, Foyt’s team will field Legge’s entry — marking a powerful continuation of that legacy.
Legge is looking to make her fifth Indy 500 start in the No. 11 e.l.f. Cosmetics Chevrolet, after becoming just the ninth woman to qualify for the race in 2012. In 2023, she became the fastest woman to ever qualify for the race, posting an average speed of 231.07 mph. She remains one of the most accomplished female drivers in global motorsport—including being the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America, the first to lead laps in Champ Car, and the first to lead the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The British driver enters the 2026 race following a 2025 campaign in NASCAR, where she became the first woman to qualify for a NASCAR Cup Series race since Danica Patrick’s 2012 debut, and the first woman in seven years to start a Cup race. Across 14 events spanning ARCA, the Xfinity Series (now O’Reilly), and the Cup Series, Legge recorded two top-20 finishes at the Cup level and the highest finishing position among rookie drivers in her debut race.
In a world where women receive just 1% of sports sponsorships, account for only 4% of drivers on tracks, and are twice as likely to feel forced out of racing within the first five years,* e.l.f. is committed to the belief that anything is e.l.f.ing possible when you fuel the women who are rewriting the rules. That’s why e.l.f. is bringing eyes.lips.fuel. to the Indy 500, showing up in a big way both on the track and in the Fan Zone at the largest single-day sporting event in the world.
Inspired by e.l.f.’s Glow Reviver Lip Oil Stick, the eyes.lips.fuel activation will be featured trackside at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The experience reimagines the garage — a space that has historically belonged to the men — and making it a space for every eye, lip, and face. The activation includes:·
A full-size replica of Katherine’s race car, giving fans an up-close, in-person look at the machine she’ll drive on track·
A museum-style showcase of real artifacts from Legge’s career — from her first race suit, to her helmet and earliest karting trophies — celebrating the milestones of a trailblazer in the making·
A “Kiss the Bricks” wall, allowing fans to participate in one of motorsport’s most iconic traditions and send Legge their well wishes·
A personalization station where fans can customize e.l.f. products and receive exclusive e.l.f. merchandise.
Legge was e.l.f.’s first empowered.legendary.female leading the way for a growing group of women athletes including Billie Jean King, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Ally Sentnor, Jaedyn Shaw, Jess Carter, Lo’eau LaBonta, and Flau’jae Johnson, all united by their shared commitment to positivity, inclusivity, and accessibility, and their refusal to let anyone tell them where they don’t belong
.AJ Foyt Racing, one of the most iconic teams in the history of American motorsport, has played a defining role in shaping the sport across generations. The team continues to carry forward a legacy of grit and opportunity, fielding two full-time entries in the NTT INDYCAR Series with veteran Santino Ferrucci and rookie Caio Collet—giving Legge two teammates to work alongside during “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Foyt’s partnership with HMD Motorsports began in 2025 in the junior formula ranks, fielding multiple entries in the INDY NXT by Firestone championship. Since entering the series in 2019, HMD has established itself as a powerhouse program—earning a team championship, two driver titles, multiple Rookie of the Year honors, and advancing several drivers to the NTT INDYCAR Series
.The Indy 500 remains the largest single-day sporting event in the world and one of racing’s ultimate tests—500 miles at speeds exceeding 230 mph, where precision, endurance, and mental resilience are pushed to their limits. Legge will begin preparations for the event with the Indy 500 Open Test (April 28–29), followed by official practice beginning May 12 and qualifications set for May 16–17. The race will be held May 24, with coverage beginning at 10 a.m. EDT on FOX
.Off the track, Legge continues to expand her platform across media and storytelling. Throttle Therapy with Katherine Legge returned earlier this year for Season 2 on iHeart, where she recently welcomed AJ Foyt Racing President, Larry Foyt. She is also the author of the children’s book Kat’s Magic Helmet, published in 2025.
*Sources: BBN, Autoweek, More Than Equal
QUOTE BOARD
Katherine Legge, Driver of the No. 11 e.l.f. Cosmetics Chevrolet Dallara: “We worked incredibly hard to be back at this year’s Indianapolis 500, and I don’t take a single moment of it for granted. I’m beyond grateful to e.l.f. Cosmetics for believing that women deserve to take up space in every arena—including this one. Together, we’re proving that when you invest in a woman’s dream, there’s no limit to what she can achieve. It honestly feels like Christmas being back at the 500. Every time I return, I gain a deeper appreciation for what it takes—not just to compete here, but to earn the opportunity to be here in the first place. I’m reminded that I’m a small part of this enormously storied event. To the AJ Foyt Racing organization, HMD, Chevrolet, IndyCar, and my team at BRANDed Management—thank you for fighting tirelessly to make this possible.”
Patrick O’Keefe, Chief Integrated Marketing Officer, e.l.f. Beauty: “Together with Katherine Legge, we’re fueling a movement for the next generation of dreamers. eyes.lips.fuel. isn’t just a tagline – it’s our commitment to every eye, lip and face watching who needs to see that they belong on that track, behind that wheel, and in any arena they choose. We’re democratizing access to sports by showing our community exactly what’s possible when someone believes in you and fuels your journey.”
Larry Foyt, President, AJ Foyt Racing: “AJ Foyt Racing has always been about giving racers a real shot. The collaboration with our partners at HMD and e.l.f. Cosmetics has helped bring this program to the grid. Katherine has earned this opportunity, and we’re committed to giving her a strong, competitive platform.”Mike Maurini, President, HMD Motorsports: “This is a tremendous opportunity for HMD Motorsports and an incredibly proud moment for everyone involved with our organization. We have worked hard to establish HMD as a leader in driver development, and to now be part of an Indianapolis 500 program alongside AJ Foyt Racing and Katherine Legge is something very special. Katherine brings a wealth of experience, AJ Foyt Racing brings unmatched history, and together we believe we have assembled a program that can make a strong impression throughout the Month of May.”
ABOUT KATHERINE LEGGEKatherine Legge is a trailblazing British racing driver and one of the leading women in international motorsports. She is the fastest woman to ever qualify for the Indianapolis 500 and has earned historic firsts across open-wheel, sports car, and stock car racing. Legge became the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America in 2005, the first woman to lead laps in Champ Car, and one of the few women to compete across NASCAR, INDYCAR, IMSA, and global endurance events, including the 24 Hours of Daytona and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. A vocal advocate for representation in motorsport, Legge has appeared on TODAY, CBS Mornings, The Drew Barrymore Show, Ellen, The Tamron Hall Show, 60 Minutes, Modern Marvels, and Jay Leno’s Garage. For more information, visit http://www.katherinelegge.com.
ABOUT E.L.F. COSMETICSe.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: ELF) is fueled by a belief that anything is e.l.f.ing possible. We are a different kind of company that disrupts norms, shapes culture and connects communities through positivity, inclusivity and accessibility. e.l.f. Cosmetics, our global flagship brand, makes the best of beauty accessible to every eye, lip and face by bringing together the best of beauty, culture and entertainment. Our superpower is delivering universally appealing, premium quality products at accessible prices that are e.l.f. clean and vegan, all double- certified by Leaping Bunny and PETA as cruelty free. We are proud to have products made in Fair Trade Certified facilities. Learn more at http://www.elfcosmetics.com.
No one knew what to expect on the first race day after the end of Worl War II. That there was in fact a 1946 race was a miracle. In late 1945 Wilbur Shaw pe4rwsuaded Tre Haute businessman Tony Hulman to buy IMS from Eddie Rickenbacker.
The track sat through the war years unused, neglected, and deteriorating. Trees grew on the front stretch. The garages were in bad shape. With six months to get the facility ready to run the 500 mile race took a Herculean effort. It wasn’t perfect on May 30, but a war weary crowd came out to enjoy a day at the track.
According to reports in the Indianapolis Star the traffic back up was the worst the police had ever seen on Race Day. Some drivers reported that it took three hours to drive to IMS from downtown.
The cars, many of which ran in 1941, the last race before the war, showed their age and the effects of idleness. Only nine cars were running at the finish. The 10th place car of Billy DeVore went out after 167 laps with a throttle issue.
George Robson
George Robson, starting his third 500 in 15th place, led 138 to win. He had not finished higher than 23rd in his first two starts. Robson described his victory in a column he wrote in the Indianapolis Star on May 31:
Pole winner Cliff Bergere never led as Mauri Rose led the first lap from ninth. Rose, the defending 500 winner, had a short day. He crashed on lap 40. Rose was the only former winner in the field.
Robson’s brother Hal also competed. He started 23rd and finished 25th after losing a connecting rod.
The Indianapolis 500 had made a triumphant return, under the vision of Tony Hulman, transformed into the racing grounds we have today. Hulman and his family would own the track 74 years, selling it to Roger Penske in 2019, ironically on almost the same date Hulman purchased it.
Notes
Robson enjoyed his win for just a short time. he was killed in a racing accident in Atlanta in September of 1946.
Driver Duke Nalon described the track in early May as “rougher than hell.” The remedy was to pour used motor oil on the track, then coat it truckloads of rubber dust from Firestone and knead it into the oiled surface. High line practice was still several years away.
Ted Horn drove the Boyle Maserati, the car Wilbur Shaw took to Victory Lane in 1939 and 1940, to third place. The car would be in the race through the end of the decade, finishing in the top five twice more. The Maserati also had a part in the changing of the guard, as Bill Vukovich took his rookie test in it in 1950. By then its technology had been outpaced, and Vukovich didn’t try to qualify it.
50 year old Ralph Hepburn set the fastest qualifying time in the Novi, but started 19th as he didn’t qualify on Day One. Hepburn led 44 laps before retiring on lap 121, finishing 14th.
Abel Motorsports returns to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing for the first time since 2023.- Jacob Abel returns for his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES action of 2026, after spending time racing in IMSA and the Asian Le Mans Series.
Speedway, Ind. (April 20, 2026) – Abel Motorsports announced today their entry into the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on Sunday May 24with Louisville Kentucky driver Jacob Abel behind the wheel of the No 51. Abel Motorsports will again be partnered with Chevrolet, marking their second venture together at the Speedway, and Jacob Abel’s first foray with the Chevrolet family.
“I am excited and grateful to be able to return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to have a shot at the Indianapolis 500. It’s been a lifelong dream to compete in that race and to have the opportunity to do it with Abel Motorsports and Chevrolet makes it even more special,” said Jacob Abel.2024 was both a breakout year for Abel Motorsports and Jacob Abel as the pairing scored three pole positions and three wins on their way to second in the INDY NXT drivers’ championship. That propelled Jacob Abel to the premier North American open-wheel racing series, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2025.
“The Indianapolis 500 is the greatest race in the world and the teams that compete reflect that. Having won races and competed for championships with Abel Motorsports over my whole career, I am very confident in the program that they put together.”
“It is going to be amazing to share this experience with not only my actual family, but the team that has become my family over the years. The preparations have been ongoing for some time, and I’m eager to finally get on track,” exclaimed the 25-year-old.
As Bill Abel’s team continued to grow alongside his son’s career, the opportunity to have Jacob back in the mix at Abel Motorsports and on the biggest stage the Indianapolis 500, was something the elder Abel was determined to make happen.
“We’re all beyond excited to have Jacob back with us at Abel Motorsports and ecstatic to be returning to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing! It takes a lot of special people to make this happen, and I can’t thank Chevrolet and INDYCAR enough for their help and belief in bringing this to life,” stated Team Owner Bill Abel.
“We have a tremendous group at Abel Motorsports, with a lot of NTT INDYCAR SERIES experience and we really feel like we are in a great spot to give Jacob everything he needs. To have the opportunity to compete in the Indianapolis 500 in 2023 with RC Enerson was so cool and I’ll never forget the moment immediately after we qualified and put RC in the show… it was really emotional and special to me. Now, to have the opportunity to come back here with Jacob as our driver, it doesn’t get any better than that!”
For veteran Team Manager John Brunner, the opportunity to run Jacob Abel with the Abel Motorsports team is something that brings a smile to his face.
“The opportunity to enter a car in the Indy 500 is always an exciting adventure but this is quite special to do it with Jacob as the driver. The Abel’s hired me in 2021 to help build on the team that they had already assembled and to help Jacob with the next levels of his open-wheel journey. The Indy 500 was our goal and we are here thanks to the support of our crew and families, INDYCAR, Firestone, and Chevrolet,” said Brunner.
Practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 begins on Tuesday May 12 and leads into qualifying on May 16th and 17th. The Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge goes green on Sunday May 24th with coverage beginning live on FOX at 10:00am ET. Keep up with Abel Motorsports all month long by following the team on social media, @abelmotorsports, or by visiting www.abelmotorsports.com
About Abel Motorsports: Abel Motorsports Team Principal Bill Abel began racing motocross in 1972, earning numerous championship titles as he continued the family motorsports tradition. In 2015, Abel Motorsports was launched starting in the USF2000 series and building their way up the junior open-wheel ladder. Abel Motorsports was able to capture the inaugural Formula Regional Americas Championship with driver Kyle Kirkwood. Today, Abel Motorsports is a leading force in the INDY NXT by Firestone Championship, the official development series of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, where the team operates as a multi-car organization focused on the future. 2024 was a breakout season for Abel Motorsports scoring three wins, three pole positions, and 12 podiums on their way to second in the entrant championship.Always looking towards the future, Abel Motorsports made their foray into the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2023 as the team entered the 107th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the Indianapolis 500 with driver RC Enerson.
About Abel Construction Company: Abel Construction Company is a fourth-generation, family-owned builder headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, with offices in Simpsonville, Lexington, Nashville, Fort Myers, Naples, Indianapolis and Anderson. Specializing in automotive, industrial, and commercial construction, serving clients who require disciplined execution and long-term reliability.Our purpose is straightforward: help our clients achieve their goals. That focus carries through every phase of a project, from early planning through construction and ongoing facility support. As a family-owned business, we approach each engagement with accountability and continuity, bringing dedication, positivity, and integrity to the work. We design, build, manage, and maintain commercial and industrial facilities with a client-first mindset, emphasizing quality, consistency, and practical outcomes at every stage.
In preparation for the 110th 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) Tuesday, April 28 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday, April 29 on the famed 2.5-mile oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
On Tuesday, 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 10 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Wednesday.
The Southeast Vista grandstands and the Turn 2 Viewing Mounds will be open for public viewing. 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.
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.
Photo: Louis Meyer (second from left in car) after the 1936 race.
Third in a series
1936 saw records set, traditions begin, and the first three-time winner in Speedway history as Louis Meyer took his third checkered flag in eight years. Meyer started 28th after bat6tling engine issues all month. But on race day, the power plant came to life as he carved his way through the field to take the lead on lap 89. He lost the lead briefly to Ted Horn, went back into first place on lap 147 and was never caught.
“We sure had a swell ride,” Meyer said after the race. The Indianapolis Star reported that Meyer called the Miller car the best he had ever driven.
Louis Meyer
Wilbur Shaw actually completed the 500 miles on track in less time than Meyer, but a 17-minute pit stop to tighten loose hood straps cost him the victory. Shaw led 51 laps and finished seventh.
For the 24th running of the Indianapolis 500 cars had a fuel limit of 37.5 gallons for the race. Seven cars ran out of fuel, the first on lap 180, and the last on lap 196.
Meyer set a race record of 109.069 miles an hour. A record crowd of 170,000 watched the historic win.
The number three is tie4d to the 1936 in several ways. Meyer won his third 500, and three long standing traditions were born that day. Meyer was the first recipient of the Borg-Warner trophy. After the race he asked for a glass of buttermilk. Drinking milk after winning the race did not become a tradition immediately. In the early 50s drivers drank a cup of water presented by track president Wilbur Shaw.
Meyer was also the first race winner to receive the pace car.At the suggestion of pace car driver Tommy Milton, the only other multiple 500 winner at the time, Meyer was given the Packard that paced the field.
Louis Meyer drove in three more 500-mile races. He crashed in 1939 and retired immediately. Meyer partnered with Dale Drake to, produce the Meyer-drake engine, a co9ntinuation of the Offenhauser power plant. The engine would be in every winner of the race until1968.
It did not take long for another driver to win three times, or for that matter, for a second driver to accomplish the triple victory. Wilbur Shaw took his third win in 1940, and Mauri rose won number three in 1948, Despite World War II interrupting racing from 1941-1945, IMS saw two new three-time winners in the span of just eight races. The next driver to accomplish three trips to Victory Lane? A. J. Foyt in 1967
The decision by the FIA to stage two F2 makeup races in Miami and Canada next month has ended any chance of Colton Herta driving in the Indianapolis 500.
The top ladder series in Formula 1 lost two races in the Middle East that were cancelled due the conflict in Iran. Unlike the top series, F2 has to make up the races for contractual reasons.
Andretti Global had planned to run car 98 as their fourth entry with Herta as the driver. The original F2 schedule had no race43s in May. Team owner Dan Towriss first said that a replacement driver would fill the seat. He later said that that the team would just go with their fulltime IndyCar series lineup.
The 98 car, which has been a fourth entry for Andretti since the team downsized to three full time cars, had been driven in the 500 by Marco Andretti, who retired after the 2025 race. Many drivers were interested, but the team decided there was no one that fit their profile.
Without the 9, there are 32 entries for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. One of the smaller teams, either Dale Coyne Racing or A. J. Foyt Racing, will need to field a third car. Prema is still attempting to get a car entered for the race, but I am not holding my breath.
A shortage of drivers is not the issue. It is all about money and available equipment. Some drivers seeking a ride are Katherine Legge, Stefan Wilson, and Devlin deFrancesco. All three can bring money to a team. One name which hasn’t been mentioned is J. R. Hildebrand. I have no idea why.
I am positive there will be 33 starters for the race. We are at the point where we have one lst puzzle pice that just can’t find where to go.
Notes
A. J. Foyt Racing has signed Toby Sowery as a reserve driver. Sowery starred in Indy Lights and has been driving in IMSA the last two years.
According to the team press release, Sowery will begin his role at the next round in long beach.
“In his role as Reserve Driver, Sowery will support the team across testing, simulator development and race operations, providing experienced technical feedback while maintaining full race readiness throughout the season,” the release states.
He was like a comet, a brilliant star who raced across the racing heavens and burned out in an instant. Frank Lockhart came to the 1926 race to drive in relief of Bennett Hill, but when owner-driver Pete Kreis became ill with pneumonia, Lockhart got the ride.
(For more about Pete Kreis, I recommend The Last Lap by William Walker, available at Octane Press.)
It took the rookie three attempts to qualify the car, and he started the race from the middle of row seven in the 28 car field. Lockhart quickly moved through the field at the start of the race; He had assumed the lead the lead when the race was halted by after 71 laps.
Pole sitter Earl Cooper did not lead a lap and retired after 74 laps with transmission problems. The first sixty laps saw a battle for the lead between Phil Shafer and Dave Lewis. Shafer finished 10th, while Lewis retired after 92 laps.
Lockhart took the lead on lap 50 and led all but six laps the rest of the way.
It took an hour for the track to dry. Lockhart led through lap 100, then Harry Hartz led six laps. Lockhart regained the lead on lap 107 and was never caught.
Rain began again on lap 152 and intensified eight laps later. The race was stopped and declared official. Lockhart won by nearly two laps over Hartz, who had an issue on his final pit stop.
In 1926, 350 miles needed to be run for the race to be official. It was the first time the Indianapolis 500 had been stopped and called complete because of rain. There would not be another rain shortened race until 1973.
In 1927 Lockhart qualified on the pole but dropped out after 120 laps with a broken connecting rod. He had led 110 laps.
Unfortunately, 1927 was to be Lockhart’s final 500. He was killed in Daytona Beach, Florida, the following April attempting to set a land speed record. A tire blew out on his second pass sending the car into a barrel roll. Lockhart was thrown from the Stutz Blackhawk Special Streamliner and died instantly.
In his two Memorial Day starts, Lockhart led 205 of 280 laps run.
Frank Lockhart finished second in the season points in both 1926 and 1927, winning nine races. His tragic demise cut short what would have been stellar career.
Notes
For the 1926 race, riding mechanics were optional, but none were used.
The race was the first race in which no starter from the inaugural event in 1911 drove.
All starters received prize money. Lockhart won $35,600, and last place finisher Albert Guyot took home $500.
It appears a pattern is beginning to develop in years that end in the number six. The 1916 race was scheduled for a shorter distance. The 1926 race was shortened by rain. As we go through this series, we’ll find more oddities about the races each mid-decade.
1926 began a string of three consecutive races won by rookies.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 