Tag: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

IMS Open Test Preview

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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

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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

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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 

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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 

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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.

Intense, Immersive, Dynamic-the Renovated IMS Museum

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I am happy to report that all my misgivings about the IMS Museum renovation were swept away- no- blown away by the gale force winds that came through the state last week. My visit earlier today put all my concerns at ease.

This is not your grandfather’s IMS Museum. It is a far cry from the six cars sitting in the ticket office at the corner of 16th and Georgetown. It’s even a far cry from what it was 15 months ago.

The static museum with artifacts randomly lining the walls has given way to a dynamic, immersive presentation of the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The similarity to the former place ends when you enter the front door. Yet, change begins outside as well. The two car sculptures, the 1949 Novi and the 1970 Foyt car, have been moved to flank the walkway leading to the entrance. The cars now have more visibility than they had on the lawn in front of the fountain.

Once inside, visitors are greeted by a wall with three screens of race highlights which change. I happened to enter when a photo of Bill Vukovich in Victory Lane flashed into view. They must have known I was there.

The images are faint, but take a minute to watch some of them. This was in the center of the screen and there are pictures on either side.

The former single floor display now encompasses all three levels of the building. There are five parts to the museum as it tells the story of speedway from its humble beginnings to the modern racing facility it is today. The story is told with respect, and it honors those who have built the Indianapolis 500 into the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Gasoline Alley

The journey begins in Gasoline Alley, a corridor just past the admission counter. On the left is a timeline beginning in 1909. Artifacts and photos are arranged in an orderly fashion, numbered with corresponding explanations below.

On the right are cars of several era in the garages as they would have looked at that time. While the cars were great to see, following the development of the garages was more interesting to me.

1928 Miller
1957 Dean Van Lines

Starting Line Experience

I am not going to describe this because it needs to be experienced firsthand. I will say it an intense, multi-sensory presentation. and you will get race day goosebumps during the three-minute show. I saw some people wiping their eyes as they left.

Winners’ Gallery

The winning cars are essentially in the same area as they were, but each now has its own niche. This is the part where I had the largest concern with the new project. There is actually more access to the cars. The Boyle Special and the Fuel Injection Special are among the cars with individual stands. Some cars are in wall niches, but those platforms are banked so visitors can get a good look at cockpits. If I have one small nitpick, the lighting causes photos to make the cars look a different color than they are. The Boyle Special looks more red in a photo. I found using a flash helps.

I maintain that this is the greatest car in Speedway history.

Kids’ Area

I like that a kids’ area is included in the museum. The area is educational as well. There are many activities for the kids, including working wrenches, moving a toy car around the oval and the road course, and sim racing. Each activity involves easy to read facts about the car and racing.

Four Time Winners’ Gallery

This is likely a special exhibit. It features each of the four time winners. Each winner has a corner of the area.

Penske Gallery

The Penske Gallery displays the history of Roger Penske. All drivers who won for him and some of the winning cars are represented. My favorite part of this exhibit was the row of helmets of the winning Penske drivers. It is a nice history of the evolution of the helmet from 1972 to today.

Interactive Displays

Throughout the museum there are interactive display screens ranging from a driver database to a speedway timeline to a winner’s database. The nice thing is there two of each, which eliminates waiting for those who like to linger over these devices.

If you are coming to the race in May, please take some time to visit the museum. It is well worth the time and the price is fair.

While I loved the former iteration of the place- it was my winter sanctuary and place of comfort during difficult periods the new museum presents a more orderly and dignified telling of the history of IMS. I think I will find comfort here as well.

IndyCar Test on IMS Road Course

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 From IMS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers and teams will prepare for the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday, May 10 by testing Thursday, March 27 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Testing will take place on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Lunch break from Noon-1 pm
The Turn 2 Viewing Mounds will be open for public viewing.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Teams, Drivers Scheduled To Participate
:A.J. Foyt Racing: Santino Ferrucci, David Malukas
Chip Ganassi Racing: Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Kyffin Simpson
Dale Coyne Racing: Jacob Abel
Juncos Hollinger Racing: Conor Daly, Sting Ray Robb

500 Entry List at 34; Room for One More?

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With the confirmation of Takuma Sato entering the Indianapolis 500 with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, the entry list stands at 34. I’m hearing talk of Katherine Legge still trying to secure a ride with a Honda team, likely Dale Coyne Racing.

I hope she can get an entry. 35 cars makes for more dramatic bumping than the 34 we have seen the last two years. It will create a real fight on the final day of qualifying.

Here is where the entry list stands by engine and team:

Chevrolet

Team Penske (3) Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin, Will Power

McLaren (4)- Pato O’Ward, Christian Lundgaard, Nolan Siegel, Kyle Larson

A, J, Foyt Racing (2) David Malukas, Santino Ferrucci

Ed Carpenter Racing (3) – Alexander Rossi, Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter

Dreyer & Reinbold (2)- Ryan Hunter-Reay, Jack Harvey

PREMA (2)- Callum Ilott, Robert Shwartzman

Juncos Hollinger Racing (2)- Conor Daly, Sting Ray Robb

Honda

Andretti- (4) Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, Marcus Ericsson, Marco Andretti

Chip Ganassi Racing -(3) Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Kyffin Simpson

Dale Coyne Racing- (2) Rinus VeeKay, Jacob Abel

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing- (4) Graham Rahal, Devlin DeFrancesco, Louis Foster, Takuma Sato

Meyer Shank Racing – (3) Felix Rosenqvist, Marcus Armstrong, Helio Castroneves

Sebring

I am heading to Sebring this morning. After Saturday, I will have watched 78 hours of endurance racing in 9 months.

The only active IndyCar drivers racing Saturday are Scott Dixon in the number 60 GTP, Alex Palou in car 93 GTP, and Kyle Kirkwood in the 14 Lexus GTD Pro.

I’m most looking forward to seeing the new Aston Martin Valkyrie GTP car.

The race is exclusively on Peacock, and coverage starts at 10 am Eastern on Saturday.

I’ll try to post photos and a brief report Saturday afternoon, and I will have a wrap up Sunday night.

 Iconic Blue Envelopes Containing Indy 500 Tickets Mailed to Fans across Globe 

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It’s that time of year.

From IMS:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, March 12, 2025) – Indianapolis 500 fans will watch their mailboxes after the highly anticipated blue envelopes featuring Race Day tickets were mailed Wednesday, March 12 from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Devlin DeFrancesco and Louis Foster and Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist were on hand to assist with the initial mailing, which included shipments to all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and 38 countries around the world as race fans eagerly await the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25.
“I just like to do this to kind of amp myself up a bit for the ‘500,’” Rosenqvist said. “It feels like you’re actually kind of starting May when you’re here. I love it.
“It’s cool to see the manual processes. It gives you a good perspective when you see all the tickets and everything, and the logistics behind everything.”
DeFrancesco, Foster and Rosenqvist also took time to write notes and signatures on a few envelopes, with these special messages going to ticket buyers from their native countries.
DeFrancesco hails from Canada, with Foster from Great Britain and Rosenqvist from Sweden.
“It’s hugely rewarding and very grateful to be here, helping loading the tickets for them to get shipped out,” DeFrancesco said.
“So many fans from my country in Canada, to be able to see passes already going out today and people’s anticipation for this race in May is great.”
It takes approximately nine weeks to package all pre-ordered tickets for mailing, from orders the day after the previous year’s race up to current orders. Hard work from employees in the Ticket Office and other Penske Entertainment Corp. departments ensures the ticketing process runs smoothly and on schedule.

A few facts and figures about this year’s initial ticket mailing:
Number of tickets sent: More than 215,000 items (includes 170,000 Indy 500 Race Day tickets, parking, qualification and practice tickets, concert tickets, etc.
)Number of blue envelopes sent: More than 32,000
Number of U.S. Postal Service trays to accommodate envelopes: More than 650
Weight of all ticket envelopes and trays in first mailing: More than 6,600 pounds
Hours needed to fill envelopes by hand: More than 1,000 person-hours
Number of working days to package envelopes: 46
Number of Penske Entertainment employees who fill envelopes: 56
Number of states distributed: 50
Number of countries distributed: 38 (including United States)

Federal postal inspectors came to IMS with a large truck for the first mailing. DeFrancesco, Foster and Rosenqvist joined several IMS employees in helping to load the trucks.
“It’s pretty impressive,” NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Indianapolis 500 rookie Foster said. “I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but it’s super cool to see all the guys and girls here working super hard and getting fans ready who have probably been waiting for this day since Monday after the ‘500’ last year. It’s a super-cool event, and I’m super happy that we’ve been invited to be here.”
Receiving an eagerly awaited blue envelope in the mail is a rite of spring for thousands of fans of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” But why are the envelopes blue?
In the 1970s, Indianapolis 500 tickets were mailed in brown envelopes with the IMS return address in the upper left corner. In the 1980s, a heavier-stock, gray-colored envelope was introduced to mail the tickets, with just the IMS Post Office box number in the upper left corner. A computerized printer also was used for the first time in the 1980s to print ticket customers’ name and address on each envelope.
When the NASCAR Cup Series was added to the IMS schedule in 1994, the Ticket Office needed a way to distinguish between the envelopes containing tickets for the Indianapolis 500 and the annual NASCAR race, especially if the Postal Service returned the envelope as non-deliverable.
So, the IMS Ticket Office decided to color-code the ticket envelopes for each event. Indianapolis 500 ticket envelopes became blue, Brickyard Weekend envelopes became purple, Sonsio Grand Prix envelopes became green, and ticket envelopes for other IMS events use a variety of colors, including red, cream, gray and yellow.
Tickets for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25, the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday, May 10 and all other Month of May events are available at IMS.com/Tickets or via the IMS Ticket Office at 317-492-6700.