Tag: Indianapolis 500

Qualifying Weekend Begins with a Rain Delay

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Rain has entered the picture at IMS as Fast Friday gets off to a slow start. The forecast calls for precipitation to end around noon, which means on track activity won’t likely begin before 2 pm.

Scott Dixon has been the only driver near the top of the charts all three practice days. It is hard to say if it means anything since we don’t know what the others like Conor Daly, Alex Palou, or Kyle Kirkwood were working on yesterday., but Dixon has looked strong all week.

Right now, my front row for the race is Daly, Dixon, and Palou. Top 12 contenders are Kirkwood, Graham Rahal, David Malukas, Pato O’Ward, Marcus Armstrong, Felix Rosenqvist, Takuma Sato, and Helio Castroneves.

I’m hearing that there were long lines waiting to get into the track this morning. I am still at the North Annex media center, and I will head to the track around noon.

Pictures from behind the Scene

My friend Brad Proctor took some photos in the garage area yesterday afternoon. Here are a few that capture downtime at IMS.

” Hi. I need a flight from Indianapolis to Charlotte, late afternoon on the 24th. Nonstop, please.”
Elves at work
” You Passed tech! Splenda’d”
Romain is not on the non-tow list.

I’ll be back with an update sometime around noon.

It’s Fast Friday!

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From IMS:

 
INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, May 14, 2026) – Information about the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice track activity Friday, May 15 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

SCHEDULE:10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public gates openNoon-6 p.m.: Practice (all cars)6:15 p.m.: Qualification Order Drawing, Pagoda Plaza

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 3, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7, Gate 7S, Gate 10, Gate 10A

.PARKING: Paid parking is available in Lot 2, Lot 3P and Main Gate for $10. Paid ADA parking is available in Lot 2 and Lot 3P for $10. Free public parking is available in IMS infield and Lot 7 (North 40) via Gate 10 from 30th Street. Free motorcycle parking in South Carousel Lot. Free ADA accessible parking available in West Museum Lot and Flag Lot.

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 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.

From yesterday:

Practice Day 3- Bits and Pieces

Pato Leads Day 3

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As has been the pattern all week, a driver set the fast time of the day early. Today it was Pato O’Ward’s turn to lead the field with a lap of 227.308 mph. O’Ward is the third different driver to lead at the end of a practice day.

“We got a race run in, we got some qualifying simulations in, and the car is in good balance,” O’Ward said. “Tomorrow when the boost comes up, it does change quite a bit. Yeah, so far it’s been very smooth.”

“Today, we noticed (reaching top speeds) over the course of two corners or like half a lap, but tomorrow you’ll go from the start of the exit of (Turn) 2 to the entry of (Turn) 3 almost like full beans, so it’s cool,” O’Ward said.

O’Ward and his number 5 Arrow team had struggled on Tuesday, but found what6 they needed today.

Tomorrow could be a different story for everyone when the extra boost will increase speeds by 5 or 6 mph.

I don’t want top jinx anything, but we have had 18 incident free hours of running. The only stoppages have been for track inspections and debris.

Conor Dly was 25th Thursday after leading Wednesday and having a spot in the top 10 Tuesday. Kyle Kirkwood was 14th, and Alex Palou, Tuesday’s leader, ended the day with the 25th fastest time.

Alexander Rossi turned the most circuits, 68.

Notes

Attendance has been very strong each of the first three days this week. I’m anticipating an even larger turnout tomorrow on Fast Friday.

David Maluykas took time to sign autographs for fans in Gasoline Alley after he finished a run.

If rain interferes with qualifying on Saturday, I’m interested in what the contingency plans are for Sunday. I hope @Indyca_Wxman can keep the rain away.

Results

Today’s session. combined results, and Practice 3 non-tow results:

Practice Day 3- Bits and Pieces

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Some scattered items as Practice Day 3 begins in about an hour.

I omitted the combined non tow chart from last night’s summary:

Merch

I checked the gift shop areas and came away generally unimpressed with the designs and high prices. The shirts are very thin. R=There were thre designs I liked, but the #45 ptice is excessive.

This one is my favorite

My Favorite Sign

It is great that the speedway sold out the grandstands a week earlier than they did last year. Sellouts used to be an annual, automatic event.I hope we are getting back to that situation.

Iffy Saturday?

Concerns about Saturday weather from @Indycar_Wxman:

/Weather delays are frustrating, and IMS is very persistent in drying the track and getting some running in. At worst qualifying would finish on Sunday, and the pole shootout may have to be altered. I would be fine if the first round of what is scheduled had to be scratched since the htree slowest cars don’t even get a laurel and hearty handshake.

Notes

Conor Daly on his fast run yesterday:

“Feeling great, but we weren’t even flat on that lap,” Daly said. “The car feels pretty good. It’s going really well. Honestly, it was very exciting out there, too. I saw more side-by-side racing out there on that run than I’ve seen in practice for a long time. It seemed good.”

Programs are still not available. I will try to find out why there is a delay. Some fans only attend for qualifying. It would be a shame if they couldn’t purchase a program during t5heir only track visit.

Photos

My friend Brad Proctor took some great photos yesterday. Here are a few.

Katherine Legge
Pato O’Ward
Someone asked Conor to pass the Grey Poupon.

Unless something earth shattering happens, I will be back at the end of the day with a wrap up.

Fast Friday Eve

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From IMS

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, May 13, 2026) – Information about the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice track activity Thursday, May 14 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.


SCHEDULE: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, 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 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.

Greetings from a Chilly IMS

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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.

Grandstand Sellout Sets Stage for Epic Indianapolis 500 Race Day

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From IMS:

 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

Legge to Attempt the Double

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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.

Wednesday at IMS

thepitwindow

From IMS

 
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.