Pit Assignments
Tag: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Palou Leads Ganassi Sweep of Top Three; Kellett Okay after Crash
Alex Palou didn’t get on track until about 40 minutes remained in today’s post-qualifying practice, but he shot immediately to the top of the pylon with a 229.441 lap. he led teammates Scott Dixon and Jimmie Johnson as Chip Ganassi Racing sent a strong message for the rest of the grid prior to Race Day.
Takuma Sato broke up the CGR parade in fourth, followed Marcus Ericsson in a fourth Ganassi car. Ericsson turned the most laps of any of the Ganassi drivers, 38. Palou and Kanaan each made 31 circuits, the team low.
The rest of the top 10:
Josef Newgarden, Conor Daly, Marco Andretti, Sage Karam, and Simon Pagenaud.
The action had a race day intensity, with cars running in packs, sometimes three wide.
The month’s first incident occurred with about 30 minutes left. Dalton Kellett went high in turn 1, spun and hit the wall hard facing the wrong way. The right side of the car lifted but returned to the ground quickly. Kellett was uninjured.
Sato ran the most laps today, 106. Four other drivers, Scott McLaughlin, Christian Lundgaard, and Colton Herta also turned at least 100 laps.
Starting Lineup for the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500
One More Practice, Then We Wait
Monday at IMS:
SCHEDULE (All times local):
11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Public gates open
1-3 p.m.: Open practice
TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $15 for Indy 500 practice days. Children 15 and under are admitted free with paying adult.
PUBLIC GATES OPEN (11 a.m.-3 p.m.): Gate 2, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7, Gate 7S, Gate 10 and Gate 10A.
PARKING: Free parking for Indianapolis 500 practice is located in N Lot, in the South Carousel Lot for motorcycle parking and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum Lot for ADA parking. Bicycle parking is located outside Gate 1, Gate 6 and Gate 9.
CASHLESS OPERATIONS: All IMS concession stands and merchandise locations are cashless this year. 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 throughout the facility. These funds can be spent inside the venue, outside the venue, online or anywhere in the world where Mastercard/Visa debit cards are accepted. Gate locations will accept cash.
This is the last day on track until Carb Day. The two hours should be busy. I will be posting stories each day this week. One will be about the strangest 500 I have ever been to. What is the strangest 500 you have ever attended?
I will have a practice wrap-up this afternoon. Then I get to be a regular human for a few days.
Dixon’s Pole More Than Just a Speed Record
Photo by Kyle McInnes
Scott Dixon won the pole for the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 with a record pole four lap average of 234.046 mph. It is Dixon’s fifth pole at IMS and second consecutive start at the head of the grid. Those are the facts of this story, but this pole elevates Dixon onto an even higher plane of the Indycar record book than he already occupied.
Dixon now is in second place in three categories, just one away from tying three different legends of the sport. His six championships are one short of A. J. Foyt’s seven titles. He has won 51 races, one less than Mario Andretti, who is in second place on the all- time career list. As of 5:30 pm today Dixon is one Indianapolis 500 pole behind Rick Mears.
We witness greatness every time Dixon takes to the track. I feel privileged to have watched Foyt, Andretti, Mears, and now Dixon.
Quick Thoughts on the Day
The two round format was okay, but i thought the round of twelve took some of the starch out of the Fast Six. I would prefer a return to the Fast Nine.
A better format if the Fast twelve is retained and television windows are available would be an earlier practice, round one around midday, and the final six at 4 pm. Spacing out the sessions would give the engines the needed cooling time.
Going last in the Fast Six continues to be an advantage. The driver knows exactly what he needs to be on the pole.
I was happy to see speed records return. It has been a while. Now Indycar needs to go after the one lap track record.
Has Honda caught up with Chevrolet? The Fast Six had four Hondas and two Chevys.
What a great weekend for Chip Ganassi Racing. The team had all five of their cars in the top twelve, and four of them advanced to the Fast Six. Ed Carpenter Racing had the other two spots in the final round.
Rinus VeeKay starts on the front row for the second straight year. He is going to win this race one day, maybe a week from today.
The record pole average is the second fastest average in Speedway history. The record has stood since 1996.
The provisional grid, which should become official soon.
Dixon’s 234 Lap Tops Final Practice
Scott Dixon turned an unaided lap of 234.042 mph in this afternoon’s last tune-up for Pole qualifying. Ed Carpenter ran the next best time with a 233.624 mph lap.
The 12 drivers took turns running simulated qualifying runs. There were never more than two cars on track at once.
The top six laps were run by Dixon, Carpenter, Rinus VeeKay, Takuma Sato, Jimmie Johnson, and Marcus Ericsson. The twelve cars were separated by 0.28 seconds.
Results:
Qualifying Format
The format for today’s qualifying is two rounds. The break between rounds is to allow the engines to cool down before the final round.
Pole Day- Chilly Temps, Hot Laps
Photo: Can Rinus VeeKay keep his spot on top?
Today’s Schedule
SCHEDULE (all times local):
10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public gates open
12:30-2 p.m.: Top 12 Practice Peacock
4 p.m.: Top 12 Qualifying NBC, Peacock
5:10 p.m.: Firestone Fast Six Qualifying for NTT P1 Award
5:40 p.m.: NTT P1 Award Presentation
TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $20 for Indianapolis 500 qualifications. Children 15 and under are admitted free with paying adult. Free entry for all military personnel with a valid military ID.
PUBLIC GATES OPEN (10 a.m.-6 p.m.): Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 3, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7, Gate 7S, Gate 9, Gate 10 and Gate 10A.
PARKING: Free parking for Indianapolis 500 qualifications is located in Turn 3 and Lot 7 (North 40), in the South Carousel Lot for motorcycle parking and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum Lot and Lot 7 (North 40) for ADA parking. Paid parking is $20 in Gate 1 and $10 in Main Gate, Lot 2, Lot 3G and Lot 3P. Paid ADA parking is $20 in Gate 1 and $10 in Lot 2, Lot 3P and Lot 3G. Bicycle parking is located outside Gate 1, Gate 6 and Gate 9.
The latest from @Indycar_Wxman
Today should be dry and cloudy. The temperature is expected to be in the low 60s for the qualifying runs at 4 pm. Any rain will be light and be gone well before the first practice.
Breaking Down the Fast Twelve
Teams
Ganassi-5
Penske- 1
Carpenter- 2
Coyne- 1
AMSP- 2
Andretti – 1
The group includes the two oldest Indianapolis 500 rookies, Romain Grosjean and Jimmie Johnson. Four time 500 pole winner Scott Dixon and three time polesitter Ed Carpenter are also in the mix.
Jimmie Johnson and Marcus Ericsson are the only two drivers in the final twelve who have not won a pole.
Four former winners representing five 500 victories will run for the pole- Scott Dixon, Takuma Sato, Tony Kanaan, and Will Power.
In this Indycar era of youth, the average age of the Fast Twelve is 40.6 years old. Only three drivers are 25 or younger. The Indianapolis 500 is still a place for experienced drivers.
The practice this morning may not be very busy. In 2021 few cars took advantage of the practice time. Conditions will be very different by qualifying time. Speeds could be even higher than yesterday given the cooler conditions, I’m not sure how much rubber will be put down in the practice period, though.
My picks for the Fast Six-
VeeKay, O’Ward, Rosenqvist, Dixon, Sato, and Carpenter.
Pole winner- VeeKay
I’ll be back after the first practice.
Qualifying Wrap-Up
First qualifier Pato O’Ward’s time stood up well as he finished second today.
It was a day of swings in the weather, luck of the draw, frustrations, and disappointment. There were tactical errors, driver errors, and fantastic drives. All in all, it was a great first qualifying day.
Rinus VeeKay put up the third fastest average in Speedway history, a 233.655 mph average, with a best lap of 234.702 mph, the fastest lap since 1996. Only Arie Luyendyk and Scott Brayton had higher averages in qualifying.
Before qualifying began, two cars were gone from the lineup. Stefan Wilson’s team reversed second and third gears, causing the car to overrev. The team changed the engine as a precaution, but he never returned to the track. Wilson will start 33rd.
Juan Pablo Montoya’s failed inspection and was sent to the back of the line. The move cost Montoya his guaranteed run.
The track warmed as the clouds cleared. the drivers who drew spots in the middle of the pack had little chance at the front two rows, but still had a shot at the top 12, who are eligible for the pole tomorrow.
Takuma Sato and Marco Andretti provided the day’s mon track drama. Sato had completed his run, but didn’t run low as he slowed on the backstretch. Andretti came up on him as he started his warmup lap and had to check up, ruining his run. Sato’s time was taken down. Andretti went out again , but could only manage 23rd fastest.
Sato went out to requalify. He brushed the wall on his second lap but still made the top twelve. He bumped teammate David Malukas in doing so.
Following a halt for lightning and rain, Team Penske withdrew times for Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden. McLaughlin lost nearly 10 spots and will start the race 26t. Newgarden was on his warmup lap when the rain returned. Indycar called the day over, and Newgarden kept 14th place.
The top 12:
Rinus VeeKay
Pato O’Ward
Felix Rosenqvist
Alex Palou
Tony Kanaan
Jimmie Johnson
Ed Carpenter
Marcus Ericsson
Romain Grosjean
Scott Dixon
Will Power
Takuma Sato
Quick Thoughts
A lot of respect for Sato for keeping the run going after brushing the wall. He turned what could have been a disastrous day into a top 12 spot for tomorrow.
The rain may have saved Newgarden several positions. I wonder what he thought after Mclaughlin’s run.
Is the second qualifying run becoming the new bumping? I have never been a fan of multiple attempts, but today the second runs were dramatic and had some large implications for where some drivers start next Sunday.
I did feel that Marco should have been allowed to requalify immediately. I hope Indycar looks at a procedural change for a situation like that. I really hope that a similar situation never happens again. That could have been very dangerous. I’m glad sato was penalized.
The efficient way that the entire field qualified today makes me wonder if qualifications and practice may be shortened in the future. I think it would take a lot away from the entire event to compact May even more.
How odd to see only one Team Penske driver eligible for the pole. Will Power would not have been in contention last year when just the first nine had a chance on Sunday.
I would not count out Marcus Ericsson or Felix Rosenqvist to end up on the front row tomorrow.
Thanks for following along today. More fun tomorrow.
Qualifying Update
Photo by Joe Skibinski
Honda issues, a procedural penalty, and the third fastest qualifying average in history highlight the first round of qualifying.
Honda Problems
Marco Andretti was impeded by Takuma Sato on his warmup lap. Sato was still on the track on his cool down lap. he should have been in the warmup lane. Andretti also had an engine issue on his third lap. Sato’s qualifying time was withdrawn by Indycar.
Colton Herta lost all power on his warmup lap.
Juan Pablo Montoya’s car faled tech inspection and was withdrawn from the line by Indycar. he will qualify after everyone else has their guaranteed turn.
Stefan Wilson overrevved the gears in this morning’s practice session. The team decided to change the engine. Wilson has not been out to qualify yet.
Rinus VeeKay began his run with a lap of 234,4 mph. His average of 233.655 is the third fastest qualifying average in Speedway history. Arie Luyendyk and Scott Brayton are the two ahead of VeeKay.
The top 12 as of 1:25 PM;
Rinus VeeKay
Pato O’Ward
Felix Rosenqvist
Alex palou
Tony Kanaan
Jimmie Johnson
Ed Carpenter
Marcus Ericsson
Romain Grosjean
Scott Dixon
Will Power
Josef Newgarden
The chance for storms has pushed back to 2:45, so we may have a few second runs. There are still four spots open in the field. Back with more later.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 