The 1930s was an odd decade in Indianapolis Motor Speedway history. The depression raged through the first part of the decade. Louis Meyer and Wilbur Shaw each won two races in the decade. The other six winners are some of the more obscure winners in race history. Fred Frame, winner of the 1932 contest, deserves more recognition than he gets today.
Fred Frame began his racing career in California, racing on dirt tracks in 1922. He set a world dirt speed record in 1924.
Frame began his Indianapolis career in 1927. He started last and finished 11th, completing 199 laps. He followed that race with finishes of eighth and 10th in 1928 and 1929. In 1931 frame started eighth finished second to Louis Schneider.
1932 got off to a bad start for Frame as he qualified 27th. In the race he charged to the front nd took the lead for good on lap 152. Frame led a total of 58 laps. It was not only an incredible feat to win from starting near the rear of the field, but Frame also set a new record for the race, beating Pete DePaolo’s record which had stood since 1925.
Harry Hartz, Frame’s car owner, also received a special prize. Hartz won possession of the Wheeler-Schebler trophy. The trophy was awarded to leader after 400 miles. If a car owner’s machine won the trophy in three races, the owner took permanent possession of it. Billy Arnold led at 400 miles in both 1930 and 1931 in a Hartz car.
The 500 win ended a four year stretch at Indianapolis in which Frame had finishes of eighth, tenth, second, and first. He would race three more years in the 500, but did not have the success of his middle years.
Riding in a Winning Car
My personal connection to Frame is much more distant than my connection to either Troy Ruttman or Floyd Davis. I never met Fred Frame. In 2014 in Milwaukee, I signed up for a charity lap in a vintage race car. My first choice, the Gilmore Red Lion Special, overheated as we pulled out of the garage. I climbed into a 1932 Ford V-8 stock car. the driver told me it was the car that won the 1933 Elgin National Stock Car road race with Fred Frame behind the wheel.
Frame in the 1933 Elgin National stock car race
We ran the required three laps, the driver asked if it would be okay if we did a few more. He had to ask? The thing I remember about the ride is how stiff the springs were. The next day I rode in a pace car. A lot of progress was made in suspensions in 80 years.
Don Cusick has teamed with Elton Julian of Dragonspeed and with some huge assistance from A.J. Foyt Racing, has put together the 33rd and final entry for the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500. Stefan Wilson will drive the number 25 Chevrolet in the race. A few weeks ago chances for the Cusick Motorsports entry looked grim. Finding a chassis, arranging to lease one of the few remaining engines, and putting a crew together were some of the challenges in getting the final entry together. A meeting with Julian set things in motion, and the final entry for the race is now official. Asked when the team will begin planning for 2023, Cusick said,
“We don’t want to do that again, I can assure you. I would tell you that we’re going to start working on 2023 on May 15, 2022. I think everything we’re doing, everything we’re putting into this effort is leading us towards that, and everything we learn is going to be applied to that.”
Julian, who entered a car in the 500 in 2019 for Ben Hanley, is excited to return to I
“Obviously Indy has been a passion of mine when I was a driver, as a team owner. Now, it’s firmly a target that I’ve always wanted to get to. We made strides in that direction and got killed during the lockdowns. We couldn’t hold on to the INDYCAR side of things, and it was disappointing. A large part of, call it excitement, is the fact that we’re coming back basically a year earlier than I had hoped. We shifted a lot of our focus back to the States this year, racing full-time in the States, but in the back of my mind was always ’23, ’23, whatever, even if it’s just the 500, but I can start preparing properly was always the mission. So I wasn’t thinking too much about it this year. Heard all the rumblings about I would but I can’t, or I would but I can’t, so I just put my hand up and said, well, we’ll do it. If personnel and the will and just having the fortitude to say yes and go for it, knowing that we have the quality, of course, it took some traction, and Jay instantly put us together with Stefan.”
Wilson said that the expanded full time Indycar field makes it difficult for one offs to enter the 500.
“It was not from a lack of interest, it was just there was so much interest in the INDYCAR Series right now. There’s 27, 28 full-time entries. A big issue that a lot of teams have run into is just personnel and having that bandwidth to take on more cars or to commit to the 500 in that kind of time. So we tried multiple different avenues, and we just kept hitting stumbling blocks. The later it got, the less likely it looked that we were going to be here. I think Elton tweeted out something was it four weeks ago maybe, that hey, we want to go back to Indy, and it was like, hey, huh, that’s interesting. Jay connected us and we started exchanging a few texts, and I wasn’t sure what Elton thought of me. I didn’t know if he respected me as a driver, wanted to work with me, but I was like, I’ll just see where this goes.”
In addition to a scarcity of cars and engines, Julian said that crew shortages make assembling a team difficult. He also noted that Indycar needs younger personnel.
“I think we’ve suffered a little bit from getting new blood in. Racing sports car and racing around the world, I will say that the average age of the crew member in INDYCAR is way older than anywhere else I see, and the first time we went to INDYCAR with my European crew, they were like, wow, we’re really young here. So I think there’s been a lack of new blood.”
He added that kids coming out of college aren’t interested in crew work before they begin their engineering careers “Some of the older talented guys that are in retirement mode now, that have left, you’ve got to beg the Andy Browns and these guys to come back out and do a race with you. So there’s been very little backfill from that, and you have a lot of kids now that go to school that have engineering degrees that want to get paid like 150 coming out of school. Nobody wants to just go work. So I think that’s part of it.” But I can tell you 100 percent I fight with Penske in Europe for personnel. They poached my systems engineer last year. I was like, why don’t you just take the whole team. But it’s like that, and it’s happening everywhere. There is a serious lack of people out there, and at the same time there’s people falling out of Formula 1 because they can’t hack the schedule. So there’s places to go find people.”
Wilson:
It will be very tempting to just focus on the race car, but we have to kind of also try and improve our starting position, as well. But I think we’ll know straight away on that first day of what’s realistic, and if we think that it’s going to be better time served just focusing on the race car straight away, then that’s what we’ll do. But if we think we’ve got a chance of starting much higher up the grid, then we’ll be splitting that time between both and making sure that we can try and make both as good as possible, because it is really important where we start. I found that out last year, just very, very difficult to pass. I think I passed like two cars in 20 laps, and that felt like a victory. I think that’s going to be our sort of mentality. We’ll kind of see where we start on that Tuesday.
Photo: Mauri Rose (L) and Floyd Davis with the Borg-Warner trophy after winning the 1941 Indianapolis 500
The 29th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 1941 is mainly remembered for two things- the race morning fire in the garage area, which miraculously destroyed just one car; and Wilbur Shaw’s tire issue that caused his crash while leading the race. The fire was indirectly responsible for the crash. One of the co-winners, Floyd Davis, is arguably the most forgotten man to win the 500.
After Shaw’s crash, Mauri Rose went on to win the race in Davis’s car.
Davis (in car)
Rose and Davis were teammates driving for Lou Moore’s Noc-out Hose Clamp team. Rose’s car dropped out early. Moore, who won the 1938 race with Floyd Roberts, was desperate to beat Wilbur Shaw again. He decided to have Rose replace Davis on lap 72. Davis was running mid pack, and Moore thought Rose had a chance to finish bear the front.
From yesterday- Youth will be Served- Ruttman’s 1952 500 Win
Davis reluctantly gave up his seat. After Shaw crashed, Rose drove the car to victory. since rose was not the car’s starting driver, both Rose and Davis were the winners. It was the second time in Speedway history that the 500 had co-winners. In 1924 Joe Boyer and Lora Corum shared the win. The rules have changed and this situation will never occur again.
Floyd Davis
Floyd Davis was from Springfield, Illinois. He was a champion dirt track sprint racer. His record in the 500 is mostly nondescript. he drove in four races beginning in 1937. before 1941 Davis’s best finish was 15th his rookie year.
The racing careers of the co-winners took different paths after the race. Rose would go on to win the 500 outright in 1947 and 1948, making him the third three time winner. He mentored Bill Vukovich in his first year at the track.
Davis drove in a few sprint races in the summer of 1941, then didn’t race anymore. Some say he quit in disgust over being pulled from the race.
World War II halted racing in the United States for four years. Davis joined the Navy. After the war, he returned to Indianapolis and worked for Detroit Diesel Allison and an heating and air conditioning company. Davis also was a general contractor.
The lack of a race in 1942 probably contributed to Davis’s lack of recognition. No 500 meant no program recapping the previous year’s contest. The 1946 race program, for the first race after the war, does not mention 1941 at all. A huge oversight in my opinion.
I said I have a personal connection to the drivers I am writing about this week. Floyd Davis lived about seven houses from me in the 50s. I would see him and his son a lot. I wish I had talked to him more about the race.
next time you are in the museum and see the Borg-Warner trophy, look for the twin faces of 1941. Davis is an Indianapolis 500 winner.
We speak today of the youth movement in Indycar. The podium at last Sunday’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama had an average age of 22.6 years. 70 years ago, there was no youth movement, but a driver who was 22 years, 80 days old won the race. Troy Ruttman is still the youngest driver to win the Indianapolis 500.
Despite his age, 1952 was Ruttman’s fourth 500 mile race. Rules were different then. He finished 12th in 1949 and 15th in 1950, A bad bearing caused him to drop out of the 1951 race after 78 laps. He had started sixth.
In 1952 Ruttman qualified the number 98 Agajanian Special seventh. .J. C. Agajanian, the car owner, was a pig farmer from southern California who would become one of the most colorful owners in Speedway history.
Bill Vukovich was heavily favored to win the race. Vuky seemed in control after the final pit stops, but Ruttman, who had led 36 laps, kept gaining. With 10 laps to go Ruttman had cut Vukovich’s lead to just 19 seconds. On lap 192, the steering shaft broke on Vukovich’s car. He crashed into the turn 3 outside wall as Ruttman sped past and took the checkered flag.
The day was not easy for Ruttman. On his first pit stop on lap 85, a flash fire erupted and was quickly extinguished. On his second stop on lap 1467, the crew was out of fresh tires and had to use the rubber that the the car used for qualifying. Ruttman said that he lost a balance weight on the right front wheel and had to wrestle the car for the last half of the race.
Troy Ruttman pits during the 1952 500 Mile Race
As happened to many 500 winners in that era and previous years, misfortune struck that summer. At a race in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in July, Ruttman suffered injuries, including a broken right arm, which kept him out of action for 18 months. In spite of missing nearly half the season, he still finished second in the national championship just 33 points behind Chuck Stevenson. Ruttman did not get a chance to defend his 500 title in 1953.
He returned to the 500 in 1954. Ruttman qualified 11th and finished fourth. In 1955, he failed to qualify for the race. Ruttman ran the 500 again in 1956 and 1957. He returned in 1960 and drove in every race through 1964, when he retired. He qualified third in 1957 and and sixth in 1960. His best finish in his last eight 500s was 12th in 1963.
Rutrtman retired to Michigan. He started a mini bike, go kart/motorcycle business in in Dearborn Heights. In 1974 Ruttman began a Yamaha motorcycle enterprise in Canton, Michigan, which became the largest Yamaha dealership in the United Sates.
Ruttman did not start a youth movement. The next two drivers who were younger than 30 to win the 500 were Bob Sweikert at age 29 in 1955 and A.J. Foyt, age 26, in 1961.
I met Ruttman when I was 17 years old at an event at a car dealership. he was friendly and took some time to talk to me and my brother. The following weekend we ran into him at the track. We said hello and he remembered our names. I am still impressed by that.
Thanks to Toddy Ruttman for her help with this story.
NINTH GMR GRAND PRIX PUBLIC SCHEDULE (All times local, subject to change; all on-track activity on IMS road course) FRIDAY, May 13 (General admission $20) 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open 8-8:30 a.m. USF2000 Qualifying 8:45-9:15 a.m. Indy Pro 2000 Qualifying 9:30-10:30 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1 (45 minutes) 10:45-11:30 a.m. Indy Lights Practice 1 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. USF2000 Race 1 12:45-1:45 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2 (45 minutes) 2-2:30 p.m. Indy Lights Qualifying 2:45-3:35 p.m. Indy Pro 2000 Race 1 4-5:15 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES NTT P1 Award Qualifying 5:35-6:30 p.m. Indy Lights Race 1 (35 laps or 55 minutes) SATURDAY, May 14 (General Admission $40; Reserved Seats Start at $41) 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.Public Gates Open8:05-8:50 a.m.USF2000 Race 29:10-10 a.m.Indy Pro 2000 Race 210:30-11 a.m.NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warmup11:15-11:55 a.m.USF2000 Race 312:10-1 p.m.Indy Pro 2000 Race 31:20-2:15 p.m.Indy Lights Race 2 (35 laps or 55 minutes)2:40-3:05 p.m.Silver/Bronze Badge Grid Walk3:30 p.m.Ninth GMR Grand Prix (85 laps)5:45 p.m.GMR Grand Prix Post-Race Track Invasion106th INDIANAPOLIS 500 presented by Gainbridge PUBLIC SCHEDULE (All times local, subject to change; all on-track activity on IMS oval) TUESDAY, May 17 (General Admission $15) 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open 9-11 a.m. Veteran Practice 1-3 p.m. Rookie Orientation Program, Veteran Refresher Tests 3-6 p.m. Open Practice WEDNESDAY, May 18-THURSDAY, May 19 (General Admission $15) 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open Noon-6 p.m. Open Practice FRIDAY, May 20 – FAST FRIDAY (General Admission $15 )10 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open Noon-6 p.m. Open Practice 6:15 p.m. Qualifications Draw SATURDAY, May 21 – PPG Presents ARMED FORCES QUALIFYING (General Admission $20) 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open 9-10:30 a.m. Pre-Qualifying Practice (Two groups) Noon-5:50 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying (Setting positions 13-33 or 13-30 if there are more than 33 entries) SUNDAY, May 22 – PPG Presents ARMED FORCES QUALIFYING (General Admission $20) 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Last Chance Practice* 12:30-2 p.m. Top 12 Practice 2-3 p.m. Last Chance Qualifying (Positions 31-33)* 4 p.m. Top 12 Qualifying 5:10 p.m. Firestone Fast Six Qualifying for NTT P1 Award 5:40 p.m. NTT P1 Award Presentation * — if necessary MONDAY, May 23 (General Admission $15; Infield Access Only for Fans) 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Public Gates Open (Gates 2, 4, 6S, 7, 7S only )Noon-2 p.m. Open Practice TUESDAY, May 24-THURSDAY, May 26 No track activity FRIDAY, May 27 – MILLER LITE CARB DAY (General Admission $40) 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Final Practice 2:30-4 p.m. INDYCAR Pit Stop Challenge 4-6 p.m. Miller Lite Carb Day Concert, Turn 3 infield SATURDAY, May 28 – LEGENDS DAY presented by Firestone (General Admission $10) 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Public Gates Open 9-10 a.m. Full Field Driver Autograph Session, Pagoda Plaza 10:30 a.m. Public Drivers’ Meeting, Tower Terrace Noon-1:30 p.m. AES 500 Festival Parade, downtown Indianapolis 7 p.m. Firestone Legends Day Concert, TCU Amphitheater in White River State Park, downtown Indianapolis SUNDAY, May 29 – RACE DAY (General Admission $50; Reserved Seats Start at $55 )6 a.m.-4 p.m. Public Gates Open 7 a.m. Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light Gates Open, Turn 3 infield 12:45 p.m.106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge (200 laps)
The month of May schedule is announced in the following IMS press release. It looks like things are back to normal.
From IMS:
Month of May Schedule Packed with Action, Excitement on IMS Oval, Road Course
INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, April 27, 2022) – It’s almost time to come Back Home Again.The Month of May will return to its normal schedule at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with full seating capacity, including the traditional lineup of on-track and off-track activities surrounding the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29 and the GMR Grand Prix on Saturday, May 14. Fans can enjoy 11 days of on-track activity on the IMS road course and the historic, 2.5-mile oval. Action on the road course for the GMR Grand Prix will start Friday, May 13, with practice for the Indianapolis 500 starting Tuesday, May 17 on the oval. NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers will line up to take the green flag for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” at 12:45 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 29 on the historic, 2.5-mile oval (live on NBC, Telemundo Deportes on Universo, INDYCAR Radio Network). The ninth GMR Grand Prix will kick off the Month of May at IMS at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11 on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course (live on NBC, Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network). Helio Castroneves will capture the attention of the sporting world as he tries to follow his emotional, record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 victory in 2021 with a fifth win, elevating him above A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as the most successful Indy 500 driver. On the road course, Team Penske will look to continue its hot start to the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season – it has won the first three races – with its sixth GMR Grand Prix victory. “We have looked forward to a ‘normal’ Month of May for more than two years, and we can’t wait to see all of our loyal fans at the Racing Capital of the World,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “But as anyone who has attended even one Indianapolis 500 or GMR Grand Prix knows, there is nothing ordinary about this magical time of the year at IMS. It’s so special, with action, excitement and memories every single day. We truly welcome everyone back home again.” Among the highlights of the Month of May at IMS is an exciting new format for PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22. After Day One of qualifying from noon-5:50 p.m. (ET) Saturday, May 21, Day Two will include two rounds of qualification attempts to decide the first four rows, including pole position. Starting in reverse order of speeds based on Day One, each of the top 12 drivers will have a guaranteed attempt to post a traditional four-lap qualifying time starting at 4 p.m. The fastest six will advance to the Firestone Fast Six at 5:10 p.m. to determine positions one through six and compete for the NTT P1 Award for pole. The slowest six will fill out starting positions seven through 12 according to their recorded time. In the Firestone Fast Six, each entrant is again guaranteed one attempt and will qualify in reverse order based on their Top 12 qualification results. The fastest wins pole position, which includes a $100,000 prize, with the remaining five drivers filling out the remainder of the first two rows. A post-qualifying practice from noon-2 p.m. Monday, May 23 will give fans another opportunity to see NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers hone setups in traffic before Race Day. Miller Lite Carb Day will feature the final practice before Race Day, with cars on track from 11 a.m-1 p.m. Friday, May 27. The popular INDYCAR Pit Crew Challenge also returns after a two-year hiatus, rewarding the fastest crews in the sport and putting their talent in the spotlight from 2:30-4 p.m. Month of May action will start on the IMS road course with the GMR Grand Prix, with two full days of on-track action open to the public Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14 featuring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship. The GMR Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14. Only two drivers have swept this event and the Indy 500 in the same year – Will Power in 2018 and Simon Pagenaud in 2019. A great variety of live music also will complement the exciting on-track action throughout Race Weekend. Rock’s ultimate supergroup Kings of Chaos and legendary Grammy Award winner Rick Springfield will co-headline the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert on Friday, May 27. Legendary funk and R&B band Morris Day and the Time will open the concert, followed by Springfield and Kings of Chaos. The show starts at 3:30 p.m. on the Miller Lite Stage inside Turn 3 of the IMS oval, a new location this year. Country music superstar Dierks Bentley will headline the Firestone Legends Day Concert on Saturday, May 28. Special guests Ashley McBryde and Dillon Carmichael will open the show, which begins at 7 p.m. (ET) at the TCU Amphitheater in White River State Park, further expanding the celebration of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” into downtown Indianapolis. Superstar DJ and producer Martin Garrix will headline a stellar lineup of global electronic music artists at the Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light on Sunday, May 29. deadmau5, Galantis, Steve Aoki and Yellow Claw also will perform at the Race Day concert during the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Performances begin at 8:15 a.m. in the infield adjacent to Turn 3 of the IMS oval. Tickets are on sale now at IMS.com for the ninth GMR Grand Prix and 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. All fans 15 and under are admitted free for general admission with an accompanying paying adult. There is no free admission for reserved seats on Race Day for the Indianapolis 500 or GMR Grand Prix.
NINTH GMR GRAND PRIX PUBLIC SCHEDULE (All times local, subject to change; all on-track activity on IMS road course) FRIDAY, May 13 (General admission $20) 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open 8-8:30 a.m. USF2000 Qualifying 8:45-9:15 a.m. Indy Pro 2000 Qualifying 9:30-10:30 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1 (45 minutes) 10:45-11:30 a.m. Indy Lights Practice 1 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. USF2000 Race 1 12:45-1:45 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2 (45 minutes) 2-2:30 p.m. Indy Lights Qualifying 2:45-3:35 p.m. Indy Pro 2000 Race 1 4-5:15 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES NTT P1 Award Qualifying 5:35-6:30 p.m. Indy Lights Race 1 (35 laps or 55 minutes) SATURDAY, May 14 (General Admission $40; Reserved Seats Start at $41) 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open 8:05-8:50 a.m. USF2000 Race 2 9:10-10 a.m. Indy Pro 2000 Race 2 10:30-11 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warmup 11:15-11:55 a.m. USF2000 Race 3 12:10-1 p.m. Indy Pro 2000 Race 3 1:20-2:15 p.m. Indy Lights Race 2 (35 laps or 55 minutes) 2:40-3:05 p.m. Silver/Bronze Badge Grid Walk 3:30 p.m. Ninth GMR Grand Prix (85 laps) 5:45 p.m. GMR Grand Prix Post-Race Track Invasion 106th INDIANAPOLIS 500 presented by Gainbridge PUBLIC SCHEDULE (All times local, subject to change; all on-track activity on IMS oval) TUESDAY, May 17 (General Admission $15) 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open 9-11 a.m. Veteran Practice 1-3 p.m. Rookie Orientation Program, Veteran Refresher Tests 3-6 p.m. Open Practice WEDNESDAY, May 18-THURSDAY, May 19 (General Admission $15) 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open Noon-6 p.m. Open Practice FRIDAY, May 20 – FAST FRIDAY (General Admission $15) 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open Noon-6 p.m. Open Practice 6:15 p.m. Qualifications Draw SATURDAY, May 21 – PPG Presents ARMED FORCES QUALIFYING (General Admission $20) 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open 9-10:30 a.m. Pre-Qualifying Practice (Two groups) Noon-5:50 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying (Setting positions 13-33 or 13-30 if there are more than 33 entries) SUNDAY, May 22 – PPG Presents ARMED FORCES QUALIFYING (General Admission $20) 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Last Chance Practice* 12:30-2 p.m. Top 12 Practice 2-3 p.m. Last Chance Qualifying (Positions 31-33)* 4 p.m. Top 12 Qualifying 5:10 p.m. Firestone Fast Six Qualifying for NTT P1 Award 5:40 p.m. NTT P1 Award Presentation * — if necessary MONDAY, May 23 (General Admission $15; Infield Access Only for Fans) 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Public Gates Open (Gates 2, 4, 6S, 7, 7S only) Noon-2 p.m. Open Practice TUESDAY, May 24-THURSDAY, May 26 No track activity
FRIDAY, May 27 – MILLER LITE CARB DAY (General Admission $40) 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Final Practice 2:30-4 p.m. INDYCAR Pit Stop Challenge 4-6 p.m. Miller Lite Carb Day Concert, Turn 3 infield SATURDAY, May 28 – LEGENDS DAY presented by Firestone (General Admission $10) 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Public Gates Open 9-10 a.m. Full Field Driver Autograph Session, Pagoda Plaza 10:30 a.m. Public Drivers’ Meeting, Tower Terrace Noon-1:30 p.m. AES 500 Festival Parade, downtown Indianapolis 7 p.m. Firestone Legends Day Concert, TCU Amphitheater in White River State Park, downtown Indianapolis SUNDAY, May 29 – RACE DAY (General Admission $50; Reserved Seats Start at $55) 6 a.m.-4 p.m. Public Gates Open 7 a.m. Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light Gates Open, Turn 3 infield 12:45 p.m. 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge (200 laps)
Photo: Ed Carpenter celebrates winning one of his three poles for the Indianapolis 500
There were four. There were three. There are two. Eventually there will be one, and I would be okay with that. I am talking about qualifying days. Granted, we no longer need four days to qualify 33 cars Up until the early 1960s, when speeds were under150 mph, each car took about ten minutes on track to complete a qualification run. Today a car gets in its out lap, warmup lap, four timed circuits and a cool down lap in about six minutes.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced its format for qualifying for the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500. The basics of the past few years are there. The three cars on the last row on Saturday must defend their spots on Sunday against any cars that ranked 34th or lower the first day. The fastest qualifiers from Saturday run for the pole on Sunday.
The final two hours on Sunday, 4-6 PM, will be on NBC
The one change in wording I like involves the last row shootout. If there are only 33 entries, which should be the case this year, there is no last chance qualifying.
At the other end of the field, however, I’m not sold on the idea. The Fast Nine is gone. Instead, the 12 quickest cars from Saturday will each make a run in a 45 minute period. The fastest six advance to another round of four lap runs within a 30 minute time period.
I get why they are doing this- Sunday content is desperately needed. The cars in these two rounds get national television time- six cars get two appearances on camera. I might be happier with this except for a new twist from the Fast Nine concept. In the Fast Nine, each driver had just one attempt. It was dramatic. There was no margin for error. A driver makes a slight bobble in a turn and loses a chance at the front row.
The new wording says each car is “Guaranteed” one attempt. Multiple attempts are possible if time permits. I think this cheapens the pole. I would prefer that they kept the one shot only format. The release did not specify if cars could wait before making their first run and try to run out the clock on another car looking to make a second run.
Each of the fastest 12 Saturday drivers will get points for making the Sunday round based on the second day results. The pole winner gets 12 points nd each subsequent position receives one point less. I have never been a fan of qualifying points except for the single point for pole that is awarded in every other race during the season. If you have read this blog long enough, you know I’m not a fan of the current points system overall.
The money for winning the pole remains at $100,000 The amount hasn’t changed in nearly 50 years. In 2022 a driver must make three qualification runs to earn the pole, yet he receives the same amount of money as a driver in 1983 took home for just one qualifying run. The prize money needs to increase for the pole by a lot.
With no last row/bumping sessions on Sunday, the published schedule has a Fast 12 practice which ends at 2 pm. Qualifying doesn’t begin until 4 pm, leaving a two hour gap. Since the final two rounds are on NBC, the program probably can’t be moved up.
What to Do?
I appreciate IMS attempting to make Sunday’s schedule more full. The new format still is vulnerable to gaps when there are only 33 entries. I realize the unintended hole was caused by television time slots. What if qualifying was just one day?
Qualify on Saturday. Go to 7 pm if necessary. There will be plenty of daylight left. The schedule would look like this:
8:30 AM- 10:30 AM Practice 2 groups
!1:00 AM- 5:45 PM Qualifying positions 10-33 set
6:15 PM-7:00 PM Fast Nine shootout, one attempt per car.
Sunday could be the practice day which is now held on Monday. It could also serve as the rain date if weather interferes with Saturday’s schedule.
An alternate proposal is to make Saturday (Speedy Saturday?) a practice day and use the above schedule on Sunday.
The advantage of finishing qualifying on Saturday is having the pole winner available on Sunday to appear on NBC during game breaks and Sunday morning shows.
The series and the speedway have struggled to make qualifying more appealing over the last several years. I hope they can settle on a concept that works well, makes everybody happy, and brings back larger crowds. Attendance has been up, but constant and radical format changes confuse the fans. I am interested in hearing your suggestions. Please feel free to comment, and please keep it civil.
The Qualifying format has been changed and Sunday’s front of the field program has expanded. IU have thoughts which I will get to tomorrow. here is the IMS announcement. I will post the qualifying format graphic in a few minutes.
Qualifying Procedure Expanded for 106th Indianapolis 500Additional Round To Establish First Four Rows, Decide Pole Position INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, April 26, 2022) – The most pressure-filled four laps in racing have become even more challenging for those looking to qualify well and win the pole position for the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. INDYCAR officials have announced adjustments to PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22, which sets the field for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday, May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. SEE: Qualifying Format Graphic After Day One of qualifying from noon-5:50 p.m. (ET) Saturday, May 21, Day Two will include two rounds of qualification attempts to decide the first four rows, including pole position. Starting in reverse order of speeds based on Day One, each of the top 12 drivers will have a guaranteed attempt to post a traditional four-lap qualifying time starting at 4 p.m. The fastest six will advance to the Firestone Fast Six at 5:10 p.m. to determine positions one through six and compete for the NTT P1 Award for pole. The slowest six will fill out starting positions seven through 12 according to their recorded time. In the Firestone Fast Six, each entrant is again guaranteed one attempt and will qualify in reverse order based on their Top 12 qualification results. The fastest wins pole position, which includes a $100,000 prize, with the remaining five drivers filling out the remainder of the first two rows. “We have an incredibly deep field heading into this year’s Indianapolis 500,” said INDYCAR President Jay Frye. “The timing is right to implement a new and dramatic way to expand one of the most intense weekends on our calendar. Winning pole position for the ‘500’ is an incredible feat, and with this new format, it will be even more challenging.” 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship points will be awarded for those who advance to the Top 12 qualifying session. The Indy 500 pole winner will receive 12 points, the second fastest will receive 11, and points awarded will decrease by one-point increments down to 12th fastest (one point). “Indianapolis 500 qualifying weekend always is special,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said “This format will give our fans even more opportunities to see INDYCAR’S world-class drivers compete on racing’s biggest stage. While winning the race is the ultimate prize, capturing pole position for the ‘500’ is one of motorsports’ most prestigious honors and almost a race within a race. I cannot wait to see this expanded format on the final Sunday before Race Day.” A Last Chance Qualifying session for spots 31-33 is scheduled from 2-3 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 22 if there are more than 33 entries competing for a spot in the world’s most prestigious auto race. Each entry is guaranteed one attempt and can make multiple attempts until time expires. If multiple attempts are made, previous times are withdrawn, and the fastest non-qualified car assumes the 33rd spot. PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying Schedule (All times ET, subject to change): Saturday, May 219-10:30 a.m.: Pre-Qualifying Practice: Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network Noon-5:50 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying: Setting positions 13-33 (or 13-30 if more than 33 entries) Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network Sunday, May 22 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Last Chance Practice (If necessary): Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network 12:30-2 p.m.: Top 12 Practice: Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network 2-3 p.m.: Last Chance Qualifying: (Positions 31-33, if necessary) Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network 4 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 Top 12 Qualifying: NBC, INDYCAR Radio Network 5:10 p.m.: Firestone Fast Six: NBC, INDYCAR Radio Network 5:40 p.m.: NTT P1 Award Presentation: NBC, INDYCAR Radio Network A practice session for all 33 Indianapolis 500 starters is scheduled for noon-2 p.m. Monday, May 23, with live coverage on Peacock Premium and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Fans will be permitted in the infield only. Gates 2, 4, 6S, 7 and 7S will be open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Bronze and silver badges will be honored for gate admission and corresponding garage and pit access. Live coverage of the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge starts at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 29 on NBC, Peacock Premium, Telemundo Deportes on Universo and the INDYCAR Radio Network. The full Month of May schedule will be announced later. The 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season continues Sunday, May 1 at Barber Motorsports Park for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by AmFirst. Race coverage begins at 1 p.m. on NBC, with INDYCAR Radio Network coverage available at 12:30 p.m.
Indycar and IMS set forth an environmental initiative last weekend. The plan is bold and there area lot of admirable things in it. many oft he initiatives involve behind the scenes steps the series and tracks are taking. Firestone tires will arrive at venues in electric vehicles. Team transporters will will renewable diesel. A new tire which will eventually replace the current alternate tire, made from a more renewable plant than rubber, will debut at the Indianapolis 500 pit stop competition and have its race debut at Nashville, the home of Bridgestone.
IMS has already switched to LED lighting and has taken steps to reduce water usage. Food concessions will donate extra food to Gleaners’ Food Bank and serve food in recyclable containers.
The speedway will also offer fans to buy carbon offsets and will also buy offsets to reduce its carbon footprint.
The plan is bold, but what will the fans see? How effective will these steps be? What wasn’t mentioned and should have been? I think there should be more tangible environmental effort
I am not sure how carbon offsets work, but from what I read, the money mainly goes to long term projects like reforestation. A person uses carbon for an activity, and buys into a project to replace trees. This is a very long term replenishment. I would rather see something with a more immediate effect. I have nothing against offsets, but they really don’t immediately replace the current consumprion.
Mark Miles said that recycling containers would be more visible at the speedway. It’s about time. The past few years they have been hard to find. I mostly saw the blue receptacles near the F1 garages on the south end. When I attended the Toronto race, the organizers had sets of three waste containers as unit generously scattered throughout the track area. One was for trash, one for recyclables, and a third for compost material. Food was served in mostly biodegradable containers.
Miles also mentioned the Bike to the 500 program. It is a nice idea for those ho are able to do this. Nothing was said about reestablishing the buses from the airport or downtown. Mass transportation in alternative fueled vehicles might be the most effective step the track could take. Reducing the number of cars at the speedway and surrounding area. would help a lot.
IMS is putting in an electric charging station for the tire delivery trucks. Why not put in a few for people who have electric vehicles and drive them to the track? There are speedway-owned lots outside the track which would be a good spot for these units.
Hosting an event with close to a half million people and vehicles in a concentrated area makes a large carbon footprint no matter what steps are taken. Indycar and IMS have taken a few steps to reduce the environmental impact. I hope they are planning to add more measures over time.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 