Si just arrived at IMS where Day 2 of practice is underway. Conditions are much cooler than yesterday, with a temperature of 64 defrees. The sky is mostly cloudy.
Conor Daly leads with a 228.080 mph la2:27 pm:
p, followed by Savid Malukas at 227.139 mph. Alwx Palou is third with a bes lap of 226.968 mph. Palou set his lap in the first hour.
Another strong crowd is on hand to watch the action.
There have been two debris cautions so far.
The top 7 as of 2:27 pm:
I’m going to roam the grounds for awhile. I’ll be back after practice.
Announcement Arrives Earlier than 2025, Local Delay Lifted for FOX Indy 500 Broadcast
INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, May 13, 2026) – As the stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES take center stage for the upcoming 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, a massive and historic crowd will greet them with a thunderous roar as they take the green flag. All reserved seating for Race Day will be sold out for the second consecutive year, showcasing the continued and growing momentum fueling the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
The final reserved seat tickets will be sold today. In addition, reserved seat tickets will continue to be available on the IMS Official Resale Marketplace through Wednesday, May 20 at 4 p.m. ET. Last year’s grandstand sellout crowd was the first since the legendary 100th edition of the race in 2016. That announcement was made May 20, 2025.All badges and passes providing pit and garage access also are sold out.
Limited hospitality tickets are available for Indy 500 Race Day. Available space remains in the Green Flag Club and Performance Center.
In tandem with this historic update, event organizers also have lifted the local broadcast delay of the race. Expanded coverage of the Indy 500 on FOX starts on Sunday, May 24 at 10 a.m. ET across the country, with the green flag set for approximately 12:45 p.m. ET.
“Anticipation for Race Day is approaching an all-time high right here in Central Indiana and across the globe,” INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “We can’t thank the world’s greatest and most loyal fans enough. The stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES are ready for an unparalleled showcase of speed, bravery and competition in front of a historic and massive crowd.”
IMS is the world’s largest spectator sporting facility, and the Indy 500 is annually the largest spectator sporting event on the planet, hosting a crowd of approximately 350,000 people. The massive grandstands around the 116-year-old 2.5-mile oval will be completely filled on Indy 500 Race Day.
While general admission tickets are still available in the IMS infield, fans hoping to attend Indy 500 Race Day are encouraged to purchase their tickets now by visiting IMS.com.
Tickets for PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Weekend, Miller Lite Carb Day and other practice days are still available for purchase.
Coors Light Snake Pit wristbands remain available to pair with a General Admission ticket for entry to EDM’s most unique annual event.
Fans can visit IMS.com and check IMS social media feeds for updates on all ticketing-related information. Remaining Race Weekend experiences are selling fast, and everyone is encouraged to purchase remaining inventory as soon as possible
Katherine Legge will be the seventh driver to attempt to do the memorial Day weekend double, driving in the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“This challenge is about pushing through perceived limits, taking risks, and trying to do something unique,” Legge said.
Legge is driving for HMD Motorsports/.A.J, Foyt Racing in Indianapolis, and she will be in a car for Fast Motorsports in Charlotte. Both cars will carry e.l.f. sponsorship.
Other drivers who have attempted the double are John Andretti in1994, Davey Jones 1995, Robby Gordon 1997, Tony Stewart 1999, and Kyle Larson, 2025.
INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 12, 2026) – Information about the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice track activity Wednesday, May 13 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
SCHEDULE: (All times local):10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public gates openNoon-6 p.m.: Practice (all cars)
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 select grandstands to view racing action from different vantage points. Children 15 and under are admitted free with paying adult.
PUBLIC GATES OPEN: Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7, Gate 7S, Gate 10 and Gate 10A.
PARKING: Free public parking is available in IMS Infield Turn 3 and Lot 7 (North 40) accessible only via Gate 10 from 30th Street. Free ADA accessible parking is available in West Museum Lot, Flag Lot, Tower Lot and Northwest Gravel. Free motorcycle parking is also available in the South Carousel Lot via Gate 2.
CASHLESS OPERATIONS: 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. A Cash-to-Card machine, which converts paper money onto a temporary debit card, will be in Pagoda Plaza. 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 10 a.m-5 p.m. General Admission tickets are $25 for adults, Seniors (55 or older) are $23 and Military are $18. Tickets can be purchase online at imsmuseum.org.
Alex Palou turned the fast lap of the at 225.937 to just beat out Marcus Armstrong for top lap of the day. Armstrong laid down a 225.895circuit early in the afternoon as practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 began.
On a sunny warm afternoon the 33 drivers turn a combined 1,996 laps.
“Yeah, it’s good; it’s good now,” Palou said. “We had a couple of issues, but we fixed them. It wasn’t a mechanical issue or anything. It was just balance, not being super happy with it. We found something that explained what I was feeling, and it was good to go back out today before we go to sleep so we can be a bit happier.”
“You always want to do a lot more,” Palou said. “We didn’t do a many laps today, but still we understood a lot of stuff. Feeling much better than (earlier this afternoon).”
Palou was 31st on the chart in the middle of the afternoon when the car went back to the garage. The defending 500 champion returned and took over his accustomed spot on the pylon.
Conor Daly was third fastest. His best lap was 225.839.
Kyle Kirkwood led the non-tow speed chart with a lap of 222.062 mph. Palou was 16th without a tow.
I knew there would be a change to Sunday’s Pole Day format. I’m not sure that this is the best way to go, There will be no bumping as inly 33 cars are entered for the 110th running, which left a couple of hours of programming to fill on Day 2.
The pole eligible field on Sunday has grown from 6 to 9 to 12. I think it should be capped at 9. 15 is reaching new NCAA basketball tournament levels.
Some of the consequence of the new format:
Cars that finish Saturday in 13th, 14th, 15th need to use an extra set of tires. Assuming a car from this group makes to the final six, that team and driver will make three qualifying runs on Sunday, four for the weekend. That is assuming the driver did just one run on the first day and did not try again.
I am also by the fact that the three cars knocked out in the first round get nothing-no points, no extra money- just a “thanks for playing” from the series and IMS. These three cars should at least get a point for having to run an extra day.
Suggestions
If IMS needs to fill a time slot. perhaps an IndyNXT race would be a nice way to pass the time.
A vintage Indycar parade would also make for an enjoyable 30 minutes between sessions.
As many of you know, I have never been a fan of the new qualifying format, for reasons I will discuss on Friday. We need to get through this year with the rles as they ae set.
I ask just one thing of the track and PA announcers. Please don NOT use the term “Bumping” this coming weekend.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway opens today for practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. While the entry list is short, cars will be on track for seven consecutive days.
Cars mostly run race setups the first couple days and then get into qualifying mode Friday when extra boost is added.
Last year on opening day the fastest speed was in the 227 range,
Something else expected this week is the anticipated announcement of a grandstand sellout for the race.
There has been a modification to Sunday’s qualifying format, which I will talk about in a post later this morning.
My track schedule this week will be a bit reduced compared to other years. I will spend just half days at IMS Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to take care of some things at home. There are no serious health concerns, I’m just catching up on a few things.
I will still have an end of day report and keep all three of you who reead this up to date on happenings while I’m there.
The guide to today at the track can be found here:
INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, May 11, 2026) – Information about the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice track activity Tuesday, May 12 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
SCHEDULE: (All times local):10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public Gates OpenNoon-6 p.m.: Practice (all cars)
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 select grandstands to view racing action from different vantage points. Children 15 and under are admitted free with paying adult.
PARKING: Free public parking is available in IMS infield Turn 3 and Lot 7 (North 40) accessible only via Gate 10 from 30th Street. Free ADA accessible parking is available in West Museum Lot, Flag Lot, Tower Lot and Northwest Gravel. Free motorcycle parking is also available in the South Carousel Lot via Gate 2.CASHLESS OPERATIONS: 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. A Cash-to-Card machine, which converts paper money on to a temporary debit card, will be in Pagoda Plaza. 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 10 a.m-5 p.m. General Admission tickets are $25 for adults, Seniors (55 or older) are $23 and Military are $18. Tickets can be purchase online at imsmuseum.org.
1966 became a watershed year for the Indianapolis 500 and for North American auto racing. The race put the final in the coffin of the front engine roadster, solidified the European drivers as a force to be reckoned with, and caused the retirement of one of the last of the stars of the 1950s.
Mario Andretti qualified for the pole at 165.899 miles an hour, and he was joined in row 1 by Jim Clark and George Snider. The field also featured former F1 champion Graham Hill and a second year F1 diver, Jackie Stewart.
The 50th running of the Indianapolis 500 had all the ingredients to be one of the great races in IMS history. There were champions from both sides of the Atlantic, 14 different chassis, and nine Offenhauser power plants making one of their last stands against two dozen Fords.
Highly anticipated events sometimes don’t live up to their hype, and thus it was with 1966 Indianapolis . The field di not even get to turn after the green flag before cars spun, crashed into each other contacted both walls, and sent tires and parts flying. At least 15 cars were involved, 11 of the starters eliminated.
The consensus was that Billy Foster, starting 12th, ran over the wheel of sixth place starter Gordon Johncock. Foster slammed the outside wall, the tires broke free from his car and flew into the paths of the field as they hurtled toward turn 1. The only injury was to A. J. Foyt, who cut his knee and hand climbing the fence at the spot where his car came to rest.
Foster insisted that he was hit from behind, but the official cause pf the accident was that the Canadian hit Johncock.
After 1 delay of 100 minutes, the race resumed under caution. When the green flag waved on lap 5, Johnny Boyd crashed in turn 1. At this point in the race the green flag was out for less than five minutes.
The race resumed on lap 17. Andretti had the laps under caution, but Jim Clark took over the point on lap 17, followed by Lloyd Ruby leading on lap 65 after Clark spun without contact on the previous laPp. The race looked to be a fight between Ruby and Clark, with Ruby having a slight edge until Ruby retired with engine trouble on lap 166.
Clark still ran strong, but he spun again on lap 86. This spin may have led to the confusion at the end of the race.
Graham Hill was a dapper figure with a distinctive helmet.
After Ruby lost the lead to Jackie Stewart, the Scotsman appeared to be in control. His only concern was Graham Hill. ;’Stewart lost oil pressure with 10 laps to go, handing the lead and the victory to Hill. Or did it? Clark and his team owner, Colin Chapman and sponsor Andy Granatelli were positive that Clark had won despite the two spins. With Hill in Victory Lane, Clark headed toward the winner’s area only to be stopped.
The Lotus team insisted that Clark had lapped Hill, but I recall seeing in a race replay that Hill passed Clark during one of his spins.
Behind the action among the leaders, cars failed and crashed. Only seven cars were running at the finish, the last runner, Jerry Grant was 33 laps behind. Grant finished 10th. The top four were the only cars to complete 200 laps.
The course for open wheel racing in North America was set, the Offenhauser engine would fade from the scene, and a new generation of drivers would rule for years.
Notes
Hill would race in just two more 400s and fail to finish either. He would win a second world championship in 1968. He died in a plane crash in 1975.
Jackie Stewart went on to win three world championships.
Rodger Ward, two time 500 winner, retired the day after the race, saying racing ” just wasn’t fun yesterday.”
Billy Foster never got the chance to redeem himself at Indianapolis. He was killed in a stock car accident at Riverside, California, in January of 1967.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 