Tag: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

On Track at Last! Mclaughlin Sets Fast Time

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After 12 hours of lost practice time the green flag for Indianapolis 500 practice waved a few minutes after 3 pm. The session had several interruptions for track inspections and moisture.

It turned out to be a beautiful afternoon. It finally felt like May. Tomorrow’s forecast calls for the best weather day of the week. Friday looks iffy at the moment.

From earlier

Think This Weather is Bad? Look at 1956

All 34 cars were on track in a very busy afternoon. I enjoyed getting a look at all the liveries. If you blue and orange combinations or the color pink, you will enjoy this year’s grid.

There were several yellow flags, the longest the last one for what started as sprinkles three hours after the green flag waved.

Scott McLaughlin had the fastest lap of 229.49 mph3. His Penske teammates, Will Power and Josef Newgarden are second and fourth. Colton Herta finished third.

Tomorrow’s practice begins at 10 am Eastern and runs until 6 pm.

Results

Think This Weather is Bad? Look at 1956

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As we enter the 28th hour of a rain delay, things seem grim. But in 1956, there was so much rain that some thought the race itself was in danger of being postponed.

The final weekend of qualifying was plagued by rain. Sunday saw intermittent showers which left a dozen cars waiting for their chance to make the race. USAC officials extended qualifying an hour, but rain cancelled that plan. A one hour qualifying period was scheduled for Monday, but again rain interfered.

The rain was non stop in the days leading up to the race. An Indianapolis radio station broadcast a false report that the race would be postponed. Tony Hulman issued a strongly worded statement that the race would go off at its scheduled time.

The Speedway had not postponed a race since 1915, and Hulman was not going to allow that to happen if at all possible.

The track in 1956 did not have the sophisticated drainage system that is in place today. Standing water went all the way to the edge of the apron. One newspaper report said that if a driver spun down there, he would drown.

The race became known as “Cagle’s Miracle.” Clarence Cagle and his crew worked for 48 hours straight pumping water out of the flooded access tunnels, off of the track, and out of the infield.

Clarence Cagle

The race, won by Pat Flaherty, was slowed by a then record 11 caution periods consuming more than an hour of race time. The infield crowd was smaller than usual, prompting some complaints from vendors.

So this week’s delays are not so bad when you take a look at what occurred 68 years ago.

Let’s Try This Again

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Another Day of weather watching.

Today at IMS

 
Information about 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice track activity Wednesday, May 15 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
SCHEDULE (All times local):
10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public gates open
10 a.m.-6 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice (All cars)
TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $25. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. The General Admission ticket will provide the opportunity to move between the IMS infield viewing mounds and first-come, first-served access to selected grandstands to view racing action from different vantage points.
PUBLIC GATES OPEN (10 a.m.-6 p.m.): Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7S, Gate 7, Gate 10, Gate 10A.
PARKING: Free public parking is available in Turn 3 and Lot 7 (North 40). ADA accessible parking is available in the following lots: the West Museum Lot, the Flag Lot, Tower Terrace and the Lot 7 (North 40).
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. Cash-to-Card machines, which convert paper money onto a temporary debit card, will be located in Pagoda Plaza and outside Turn 1 by concessions stand 7. 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 closed for a major renovation, reopening in April 2025. To learn more, please visit imsmuseum.org/renovation.

Day 1 Wrap-up: 24 Minutes of Fun

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The good news: cars were on track today turning practice laps in preparation for the Indianapolis 500. Scott Dixon, Marco Andretti, and Takuma Sato were the top three.

29 cars ran laps. One driver who did not get out was Alex Palou.

The bad news: After 24 minutes rain began to fall, lightly at first, then more heavily and steadily. Track activity was cancelled around 2 pm.

In an attempt to make up some of today’s lost time, practice tomorrow will start at 10 am instead of noon. There will not be a break as was planned for today.

Bronze badge holders who were not at IMS early lost out on their opportunity to spend some time in the pits. IMS will not reschedule this experience this year.

There was a bit of news today.

The hybrid system will make its debut at Mid-Ohio July 5-7. This date was long assumed to be the target. I appreciate the series waiting until I return from Le Mans to have its premiere. I guess I asked nicely.

I heard that there are fewer than 10,000 grandstand seats unsold for the race. No word on how close General Admission is to being declared full.

Here are the results from today’s abbreviated practice:

108th Indianapolis 500- The Merch Issue

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The IMS gift shops have a lot of nice new apparel items this year. I haven’t been thrilled with the clothing lines I have seen the past few years, but 2024 has brought a fresh new look and many attractive designs.

If I’m in the market for racing wear, I frist look for things with a retro or vintage design. The A. J. Foyt shirt pictured above would be the first I would add to my collection of 1,237 racing related shirts. Just kidding- it’s more like 1,100. Not really.

Still, I like several items in the gift shop. Here are a few:

I ama sucker for maroon when oit comes to racing.
What the stylish media people should wear.

If the speedway wanted to go really retro, I would love a sweater like the ones drivers wore in the early days of the race with the car manufacturers name on it, like these.

I would love a Lozier shirt or sweater.

I believe this before the 1913 500. A Case or National shirt would be cool. I’m not sure marmon had team sweaters.

The gift shop has many onter very nice items in stock this year. Spend wisely. If anyone wishes to gift their favorite blogger the Foyt shirt in an XL, let me know,

Dixon at 229 Before Rain Halts the Action

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After a three minute delay cars rolled out on the track to begin practice for the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500. Thirty-one cars got some laps in before moisture halted the action after 24 minutes.

Scott Dixon turned a lap at 229.107 miles an hour to lead the field, followed by Marco Andretti at 228.399 and Takuma Sato at 225.551.

Scott McLaughlin had the best no tow lap at 219.656.

The track is currently onnhold as a light rain is falling. Radar shows some rain and possibly thunderstorms approaching from the south and west. Once the storms arrive, it looks like we will try again tomorrow.

Results of the first 24 minutes

I’ll be back later when we receive official word on today’s status. I’m alsomworking on a couple of other stories I hope to post later today.

Eight Former Winners, Five Series Champs Ready To Start ‘500’ Preparation

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From IMS:

  INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, May 13, 2024) – Preparations for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will start this week with a field consisting of eight former winners of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and five NTT INDYCAR SERIES champions.
There are 34 entries set to contest the 33 starting spots for this year’s edition of the “500.” Practice is scheduled to start Tuesday, May 14, with PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on May 18-19. All track activity on the historic 2.5-mile oval leads into Race Day, Sunday, May 26.
SEE: Entry List
Josef Newgarden earned his first career “500” victory last May after passing 2022 winner Marcus Ericsson on the final lap after a late red flag created a one-lap shootout for a spot on the Borg-Warner Trophy and racing immortality. That was the record-extending 19th “500” victory for Team Penske.
Other former winners aiming for a spot in the race this year include four-time winner Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021) and two-time winner Takuma Sato (2017, 2020), plus single winners Scott Dixon (2008), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014), Alexander Rossi (2016) and Will Power (2018). The record for winners in one field is 10, set in 1992
.Castroneves earned a spot with A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears in the most prestigious club in motorsports – four-time winners of the Indianapolis 500 – with his emotional victory in 2021, for Meyer Shank Racing. A record-breaking fifth would put Castroneves alone at the top with most victories. Additionally, Castroneves is 49 years old, and a victory would make him the oldest winner in “500” history, a record held by Al Unser, who won the 1987 edition just five days shy of his 48th birthday.
Newgarden has a chance to become the first back-to-back winner since Castroneves accomplished the feat in 2001 and 2002. If Newgarden secures a repeat win, he will earn a bonus of $440,000 courtesy of BorgWarner, the namesake of the Indy 500 trophy. That amount is more than the entire yearly purse up to and including the 1962 Indianapolis 500, which paid out $425,652.
The field includes five past INDYCAR SERIES champions: Dixon, Hunter-Reay, Newgarden, reigning champion Alex Palou and Power.
2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson will attempt to become the fifth driver to complete the Memorial Day “double” of racing in the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day, joining John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch. The last driver to complete the feat was Busch in 2014.
Larson is one of seven drivers competing for top rookie honors, along with Marcus Armstrong, Tom Blomqvist, Linus Lundqvist, Christian Rasmussen, Nolan Siegel and Kyffin Simpson.
Live Race Day coverage begins on NBC, Peacock, Universo and the INDYCAR Radio Network at 11 a.m. (ET), with the green flag set for 12:45 p.m.
2024 ENTRY BREAKDOWN:
Winners (8): Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Alexander Rossi, Takuma Sato
Rookies (7): Marcus Armstrong, Tom Blomqvist, Kyle Larson, Linus Lundqvist, Christian Rasmussen, Nolan Siegel, Kyffin Simpson
U.S. drivers (13): Marco Andretti, Ed Carpenter, Conor Daly, Santino Ferrucci, Colton Herta, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Kyle Kirkwood, Kyle Larson, Josef Newgarden, Graham Rahal, Sting Ray Robb, Alexander Rossi, Nolan Siegel
International drivers (21, from 13 countries): Marcus Armstrong, Tom Blomqvist, Agustín Canapino, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson, Pietro Fittipaldi, Romain Grosjean, Callum Ilott, Katherine Legge, Christian Lundgaard, Linus Lundqvist, Scott McLaughlin, Pato O’Ward, Alex Palou, Will Power, Christian Rasmussen, Felix Rosenqvist, Takuma Sato, Kyffin Simpson, Rinus VeeKay
Engines (34): Honda 18, Chevrolet 16 (all cars use Dallara chassis and Firestone tires) 
 

Tomorrow at the Track

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From IMS:

Note to Bronze Badge holders:

Don’t forget your Bronze badge is also valid for Pit Entry tomorrow (Tuesday, May 14) during public gate hours. This special access will only be available on Opening Day. It will not be available on Monday, May 20. This opportunity is available rain or shine.

 INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, May 13, 2024) – Information about 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice track activity, Tuesday, May 14 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
SCHEDULE (All times local):
9 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public gates open
9-11 a.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice (All cars)
1-6 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice (All cars)
TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $25. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. The General Admission ticket will provide the opportunity to move between the IMS infield viewing mounds and first-come, first-served access to selected grandstands to view racing action from different vantage points.
PUBLIC GATES OPEN (9 a.m.-6 p.m.): Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 3, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7, Gate 10, Gate 10A.
PARKING: Free public parking is available in Turn 3 and Lot 7 (North 40). ADA accessible parking is available in the following lots: the West Museum Lot, the Flag Lot, Tower Terrace and the Lot 7 (North 40).
CASHLESS OPERATIONS: The 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. Cash-to-Card machines, which convert paper money onto a temporary debit card, will be located in Pagoda Plaza and outside Turn 1 by concessions stand 7. 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 closed for a major renovation, reopening in April 2025. To learn more, please visit imsmuseum.org/renovation.

Arrow McLaren Confirms Callum Ilott for the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500

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From Arrow McLaren:

“Callum brings experience with this team and at the Indy 500 that we think is very valuable as we enter the biggest two weeks of our season”

Arrow McLaren announced today that Callum Ilott will drive the No. 6 NTT DATA Arrow McLaren Chevrolet in the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500, finalizing the team’s four-car lineup for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. 

The 25-year-old returns to Arrow McLaren for his third NTT INDYCAR SERIES race this season after producing a 13th-place finish at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and competing at The Thermal Club’s $1 Million Challenge. Set for his third Indy 500 start, he achieved a 12th-place finish last May as the second-biggest mover in the race after advancing 15 positions from starting 27th on the grid. 

The Cambridge, England native has spent parts of the last three seasons racing for Juncos Hollinger Racing, where he’s compiled 36 starts, five top-10 finishes and a front-row start at Laguna Seca in 2022. Last season, Callum finished 16th in the championship. 

Callum currently races in the World Endurance Championship for Hertz Team JOTA where he sits in second place in driver standings after three races. He is coming off a first-place finish at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps this past weekend and will be in the No. 6 NTT DATA Arrow McLaren Chevrolet throughout the Indy 500 practices beginning Tuesday, May 14.  

Callum came to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES after putting together an impressive résumé in Europe that included stints in Formula 1 as a test driver for Scuderia Ferrari and a reserve driver for Alfa Romero in 2021. Ilott also finished second in FIA Formula 2 in 2020 after grabbing three wins and five poles. 

Following this race, Callum will return to Hertz Team JOTA for the remainder of the 2024 World Endurance Championship campaign. Arrow McLaren announced last week that Théo Pourchaire will pilot the No. 6 Chevrolet from the Detroit Grand Prix through the remainder of the 2024 season. 

Callum Ilott, Driver, Arrow McLaren, said: 

“It is any driver’s dream to race in the Indianapolis 500, and I’d like to extend a thank you to Zak, Gavin and Tony for making this happen. I’m grateful to step into this race with a familiar car and a familiar team now in Arrow McLaren. While our April Open Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was shortened by weather, the runs we did have were productive. I feel comfortable with the team and know that we can come together throughout the Month of May to put our best foot forward come race day.” 

Gavin Ward, Team Principal, Arrow McLaren, said: 

“Callum brings experience with this team and at the Indy 500 that we think is very valuable as we enter the biggest two weeks of our season. He and the team got along well during the first two events of the season, and we’re looking forward to carrying that over here. I’m confident that Callum and the No. 6 NTT DATA Chevy team will be competing near the front of the grid during qualifying and on race day, just like the rest of our cars.” 

ARROW McLAREN INDYCAR TEAMNO. 6 NTT DATA ARROW McLAREN CHEVROLET