Tag: Indianapolis 500

ABC Supply, Foyt Support Homes for Our Troops in May

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Photo from AJ Foyt Racing

From A. J. Foyt racing:

BELOIT, Wis. (May 1, 2023) — The stars and stripes of the No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet is ready not only to race in the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge but to raise awareness — and donations — for Homes For Our Troops (HFOT). The nonprofit builds and donates specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post 9/11 Veterans, providing them with the opportunity to rebuild their lives and once again become highly productive members of society.

ABC Supply Co., Inc., the sponsor of the Indy car driven by Santino Ferrucci in this year’s “500,” will match all donations made to HFOT — up to $1 million total — from Monday, May 1, through Wednesday, May 31. Donations can be made directly to HFOT by visiting www.hfotusa.org/donate.

As a longtime supporter of AJ Foyt Racing, ABC Supply is proud to continue its sponsorship of the team while simultaneously shining a spotlight on HFOT. Nearly 90% of the donations received go

directly toward rebuilding homes, which means HFOT rarely advertises and relies on word-of-mouth awareness. To date, HFOT has built over 350 specially adapted homes nationwide, with the goal of building a home for every Veteran who qualifies.

Last year, ABC Supply donated the eye-popping patriotic design of its Indy car to HFOT and participated in a 10-day fundraising effort as part of its sponsorship. The company met its $1 million match goal, with those funds helping to amass a final donation total of over $2 million.

The same star-spangled livery will be featured on the car this year, and with a full 31 days to donate, ABC Supply is excited at the chance to best 2022’s multimillion-dollar impact and continue to raise awareness of HFOT’s mission.

“We are thrilled ABC Supply will spotlight Homes For Our Troops for another year during the 2023 Indy 500,” says HFOT President and CEO, Brigadier General (Ret) Tom Landwermeyer. “In addition to generating revenue with a generous $1 million match, the initiative will raise much-needed awareness about our mission throughout the country. ABC Supply’s incredible enthusiasm and patriotic commitment to our mission enables us to get even more injured Veterans and their families into the specially adapted homes they need and deserve.”

“ABC Supply has supported HFOT since 2020, with their Core Values resonating deeply with who we are as a company,” says Mike Jost, chief operating officer of ABC Supply. “We’re honored to continue raising awareness for this organization alongside our friends at AJ Foyt Racing during this storied and prestigious race.”

“Racing has given us many wonderful opportunities, but being part of the Homes For Our Troops campaign to raise awareness and help our troops who have suffered such severe injuries is a true privilege,” said A.J. Foyt, the first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. “We’re proud to partner with ABC Supply to support this very worthy cause.”

About ABC Supply

ABC Supply Co., Inc. is the largest wholesale distributor of roofing and other select exterior and interior building products in North America. Since its founding in 1982, ABC Supply’s sole focus has been serving professional contractors and “making it easy” for them to do their jobs by offering the products, support and services they need — including myABCsupply, which allows them to place material orders and manage their account details from anywhere.

ABC Supply is a 17-time Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award winner and a two-time recipient of Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Award for Best Places to Work and is committed to hiring military veterans.

Headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin, ABC Supply has over 900 locations across the U.S. and Canada. More information is available at http://www.abcsupply.com. Contractors can find resources for growing and improving their businesses on ABC Supply’s blog and the company’s LinkedIn page.

About AJ Foyt Racing

AJ Foyt Racing, headquartered northwest of Houston, has been competing at the top levels of motorsports since December 1965, nearly 60 years. With A.J. Foyt driving, his team won two Indianapolis 500s and three national INDYCAR championships. Since Foyt’s retirement from driving in 1993, the team has continued to win, claiming two more national titles and the 1999 Indianapolis 500 with driver Kenny Brack.

About Homes For Our Troops (HFOT)

Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) is a publicly funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide to severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. Most of these Veterans have sustained life-altering injuries including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed while defending our country, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and

rebuilding their lives. HFOT builds these homes where the Veteran chooses to live, and continues its relationship with the Veterans after home delivery to assist them with rebuilding their lives. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents of every dollar spent has gone directly to our program services supporting Veterans. For more information, visit http://www.hfotusa.org.Post not marked as liked

500 Qualifying Tweaked

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Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced the qualifying format for the 107th running of the the Indianapolis 500. While similar to lastyear as far as the number of cars eligible for the pole, the program has been modified to create more content on Sunday.

The new format, per IMS and Indycar: The schedule does not include the practice periods preceding each day’s action.

DAY ONE: Saturday, May 20

11 a.m.-5:50 p.m.: Full Field Qualifying (Live on Peacock, also 2:30-4:30 p.m. on NBC)

Qualifying will take place for positions 1-30. Positions 13-30 will be set, and those drivers will not requalify Sunday.

When every car in the qualifying order for Saturday has been presented at least one chance to qualify, teams may choose from two lanes for second and subsequent attempts. Cars in the priority lane (Lane 1) must withdraw their qualified time – if the car has one – but get priority access to the track ahead of Lane 2. Lane 2 is for cars that have already qualified but wish to improve their position.

Once cars are outside of the Top 30, they are considered to not have a qualification speed as only positions 1-30 will be locked in during Day One.

DAY TWO: Sunday, May 21

2-3 p.m.: Top 12 Qualifying (Live on Peacock)

Positions 7-12 will be determined. The order is based on Saturday times, slowest to fastest. Each car is guaranteed one attempt. The fastest six advance to the Firestone Fast Six to determine positions 1-6.

4-5 p.m.: Last Chance Qualifying (Live on NBC)

Positions 31-33 will be determined. Each car is guaranteed one attempt and may make multiple attempts until time expires. Each car’s most recent qualification speed will remain eligible for the starting lineup until the time is withdrawn or qualifications end.

5:15-5:45 p.m.: Firestone Fast Six (Live on NBC)

Positions 1-6 will be determined. The order is based on times from Top 12 Qualifying earlier Sunday, slowest to fastest. Each car is guaranteed one attempt. The fastest driver in the Firestone Fast Six will earn the coveted NTT P1 Award for pole.

This program eliminates the two hour gap that Sunday in 2022 had. I assume the series will play Sunday by ear each year, since this may be the last year there are more than 33 cars for a while.

As I stated last year, I thnk 12 cars eligible for the pole is too many. I am also unsure of the value of bumping for just one car. I will expand on my thoughts next week when I sharethe entire May program.

Unfulfilled Dreams- The Bettenhausens

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While the Andretti curse at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is discussed often, the Bettenhausen curse is rarely mentioned. Perhaps it is not spoken of because the Bettenhausen family never won the Indianapolis 500.

Robin Miller once said the Bettenahusen story would make “one hell of a documentary,” and now we have it. The film is more for the die hard race fan who has a deep interest in the history of American open wheel racing, but the drama and poignancy has a universal appeal.

FloRacing has produced “Legends of Racing: The Bettenhausens,” which premeired at the Indy Film Fest Saturday. Laura Andrew directed the film. Robin was right.

Tony Bettenhausen came from a hardscrabble background, and he began racing in the 1940s. He first entered the 500 in 1946, and drove in every race through 1960. His best finish was in 1955, when he finished second co driving with Paul Russo. Bettenhausen had two other fourth place finishes. He led only 24 laps, all in 1958.

Despite his lack of success at Indianpolis, Bettenhausen won 21 Champ car races in his career and national championships in 1951 and 1958. The latter title was acheived without winning a race.

The film spent little time on the elder Bettenhausen, which disappointed me. I was glad for what was there, but I wanted more about him. The story mainly focused on Gary Bettenahusen, his okldest son, but also told the stories of merle, and Tony Junior.

Winning the 500 was the family’s elusive white whale, always there, sometimes just within their grasp, but always escaping capture.

Gary had the best chances. In 1972 he drove for Roger Penske and was leading the race before mechanical woes ended his day. His teammate Mark Donohue won the race. Gary had other great shots, but always some gremlin crushed his mhopes. There ius a touching interview after he dropped out of one of his last 500s, when he realized his family would never reach their goal.

Injuries

Injuries and crashes stalk the Bettenhausens throughout their racing life. Tony had 26 crashes where his car ended upside down. The 27th time, at IMS in practice on May 12, 1961, was fatal. He was testing Paul Russo’s car when a steerring bolt fell off,sending Bettenhausen into the outside wall, upside down and on fire. The day before, he had set fast time and was favored to win the pole.

Merle lost his right arm ina fiery crash at Micihigan International Speedway in 1972. Two years later, Gary’s left arm was paralyzed in a crash on the dirt track at Syracuse. Merle raced on with a prosthetic arm for a while, and Gary still raced despite having only one good arm.

Tony, Jr. had a successful race team. He was killed in a plane crash in 2000.

Merle Bettenhausen sums up the family philosophy about the setbacks.

“Never give up and keep moving forward” he tells the audeience.

Other Voices

Pat Sullivan guides the storytelling with embellishment from Merle.

Sullivan’s assessment of the Bettenhausen boys is “They willed themselves to be great drivers.”

I agree with him. I think Tony, Sr. was the most naturally talented of them all. The others needed time to develop their skills.

A bittersweet part of the film is the several appearances of Robin Miller at his unfiltered finest. And of course Robin has the final word. Keep rolling until the very end.

The 88 minute film is available free of charge on the Floracing website.

Abel Motorsports Officially Confirms 500 Entry

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Abel Motorsports today officially confirmed the 34th entry for the 107h running of the Indianapolis 500 with R C Enerson as the driver. Car number 50 will have Chevrolet power, giving each manufacturer 17 entries.

Abel Motorsports also runs an IndycNXT team driven by Jacob Abel. They have have expressed interest in a full time Indycar effort for 2024.

R C Enerson

Enerson,a five time Indycar starter, attempted to qualify for the 500 in 2019 with Top Gun Racing.

“I can’t thank Bill and John enough for this opportunity to be back at the ‘500,’ Enerson said. “In the works for many months, the Abel Motorsports crew is top notch and loaded with experience well beyond my years. I’m honored to carry the banner for the organization during the Month of May, and while it’s going to be a few more weeks until we go on track, I expect we’ll be up to speed quickly at the Speedway. I’m just so looking forward to climbing behind the wheel of an NTT INDYCAR SERIES machine at IMS once again – so cool!”

Enerson led the Indy Lights championship in 2015 in a field that included four current Indianapolis 500 starters.

The announcement comes a day after the Indycar Open Test at Indiuanapolis Motor Speedway. The team did not participate. Enerson will need to complete a refresher test when practice for the 500 begins May 16.

Rain Brings Early End to Indy 500 Open Test 

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From Indycar Series PR:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, April 21, 2023) –
Due to rain showers moving through the Indianapolis area, Day Two of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Indy 500 Open Test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been canceled, concluding the test.During Day One on Thursday, 33 drivers combined to turn a total of 3,522 laps in sessions that featured extended hours in anticipation of weather Friday.

Teams will return to IMS on Friday, May 12 for practice and qualifying ahead of the GMR Grand Prix on Saturday, May 13 on the IMS road course. Practice for the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled to begin Tuesday, May 16, with the race scheduled for Sunday, May 28.

The next event for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix on Sunday, April 30 at Barber Motorsports Park. Coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and INDYCAR LIVE. Coverage is also available from the INDYCAR Radio Network via the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. 

Open Test Day 2

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Wweather is the question for today at IMS. it is currently raining and 50 degrees. rain is expected to continue until around 1 pm/

Today’s schedule: All times Eastern

10-4 Testing- all cars eligible

I will keep you updated throught Twitter and Facebook as to the status of the day.

The good news is that all rookie tests and refreshers were completed yesterday.

Since I don’t have any dreadful wait music to insert, here are links to my stories from yesterday:

Day 1 Wrap Up

Day 1 Wrap Up

Kirkwood: A Different Kind of Pressure

Kirkwood: A Different Kind of Pressure

Veteran Session Complete-Ericassaon on Top

Veterans Session Complete- Ericsson on Top

Day 1 Wrap Up

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It was one of those glorious days at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. An overcast morning led to a very brief rain shower which ended the Rookie Oreintation Program a bit early. It was followed a warm, windy, sunny afternoon of constant running.

Some notes:

The turn 2 viewing mounds were packed. I went over there this afternoon.parking was at a premium,and latecomers parked far down the road course backstretch. IMS had a ticket booth open just opposite the museum lot. Sales were slow, just four tickets sold in two hours according to the sellers. They did tell me that the main ticket office was very busy.

Augustin Canapino completed his rookie test soon after action resumed this afternoon.

Team Penske showed more strength on the IMS oval than they have in a few years. Josef Newgarden led the afternoon session, Scott McLaughlin was 10th, and Will power was 13th. Newgarden said after the session that the htree cars each worked on different things.

Josef Newgarden led the afternoon session

Arrow McLaren may have a bit of work to do. Pato O’Ward worked his way up to ninth at the end of the day, but Felix Rosenqvist was 20th and A;exander Rossi was 22nd.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s troubles continue. Graham Rahal led the team at 23rd on the speed chart.

A good day for Dreyer and Reinbold as the 500 only team saw Stefan Wilson finish sixth and Ryan Hunter-Reay come home 14th.

Andretti Autosport may be in line for their best May in awhile. Kyle Kirkwood was fourth and Colton Herta seventh this afternoon.

Chip Ganassi Racing had three drivers in the top 10-Scott Dixon was third and led a lot of the session, Alex Palou was eighth, and Takuma Sato was fifth.

The action during the last hour had a Carb Day intensity to it.

Tomorrow’s forecast looks iffy for running. Starting at 10 looks doubtful right now, and the temperature may impede track drying.

Some Photos

Results:

Kirkwood: A Different Kind of Pressure

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Kyle Kirkwood has a d a few days to enjoy his first career Indycar victory. In2022, he felt the pressure of a highlytouted rookie trying to ucceed in not thebest of equipment. His move to Andretti for 2023 is beginning to pay dividends. In St. Pete Kirkwood told me he flt less pressure in his new team. I asked him today if the win eased the pressure even more.

“Depends on how people perceive it. Right? I think It relieves something. I don’t know if that’s pressure. Because now it’s almost seems like there’s more pressure because people are like, Okay, now that he’s proved that, let’s see him continue to do this, you know, and and there’s pressure from that as well. So it’s a new type of pressure. So it’ll continue.”

As for when nhe might win again, Kirkwood doesn’t have a particular trackm in mind.

“I mean, I have my favorite tracks, right, that I feel like I’m better at than others. But it really depends on the weekend, how we roll out. And I’ve yet to run a road course with them (Andretti) except for at Thermal, which we were really fast. So there is promise there too. We could be really good at Barber.”

The morning session began with some issues, but the team appeared to have figured them out near the end of the practice.

“They’re (running conditions) okay. I mean, we only did four laps at the end. We were having some gremlins that were fighting which is very normal for not running a car for a year then rolling it out here. So you’re always fighting some little things, but we got through it. We ran like four laps there at the end and then and then yeah, the car fell awesome. I thought it was like Man, this thing is planted. Like we got a fast race car. “

The amount of pressure doesn’t seem to bother Kirkwood. I think his win last Sunday was the start of a multi win season.

As of 3:53 pm Kirkwood is sixth fastest with a lap of 224.8906 mph.

Rookie/Refresher Session Done; On Hold for Rain

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All refresher tests were completed and two of the three rookies have successfully completed their rookie tests. The next test period was scheduled to begin at 2 pm, but precipitation stopped the rookie/refresher phase with about 30 minutes to go.

Update: the track just reopened for activityand is scheduled to run until 6:30 Eastern

Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan, Katherine Legge, Stefan Wilson, and Marco Andretti completed theirnrefresher phases.

Sting Ray Robb and Benjamin pederen have completed their rookie tests.

Augustin Canapino is in the middleof phase 2 of his rookie test.

Sting Ray Robb
Augustin Canapino
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Benjamin Pedersen