The two practice sessions before today’s qualifying session are complete. In the Fast 12 practice, Rinus Veekay had what seemed to be an engine issue after turning a lap at 234.801 mph. It turned out to be a turbocharger problem.
Marcus Ericsson led the Fast 12 practie with alap of 235.692. Alwx palou, Takuma Sato, and Benjamin pedersen also had laps at 235 mph. Felix Rosenqvist was the slowest oif the greoup at 233.733 mph. Tony Kanaan did not participate in the session.
In the Last Chance practice, Christian Lundgaard was quickest qt 231.075 mph, followed by Graham Rahal and Sting Ray Robb. Both drivers were above 230 mph. Jack Harvey was slowest of the group with a lap of 230.423.
I walked around the garages this morning. The mood difference between the Foyt garage and the Rahal garages was striking. Foyt’s area was full of exuberance. Santino Ferrucci signed autographs and took pictures with fans.
In the Rahal garages the crew quietly went about their work, yet still took time to talk to fans. There was aq tone of calm urgency.
Marcus Ericsson ran the fastest lap of the week to lead today’s practice session as the Chip Ganassi Racing fleet continued to flex its muscles. Scott Dixon was second, Takuma sato seventh, and Alex Palou was ninth. Ericsson’s lap of 229.607 beat Sato’s top time yesterday by 0.168 mph.
“I felt like we made some changes overnight that helped me and my feeling in the car. I felt really happy with my racecar and then there we just did some stuff for tomorrow. So preparation for tomorrow Good run in and then measure the key one though, as well. So yeah, very positive day And hats off to the gas the team, you know,”ERicsson said
New to the top 10 today were Simon Pagenaud inthird, Conor Daly sixth, pato O’Ward in eighth, and Alexander Rossi in tenth.Colton Herta improved to fifth today.
Graham Rahal moved up to 12th after his team’s struggles yesterday. Teammate Katherine Legge had the slowest time, 223.934 mph.
Thursday was another beautiful day with perfect weather for racing. The forecast tomorrow calls for possible showers starting around 2 pm. Thatt should make for a very busy first two hours.
All cars get extra boost for qualifying tomorrow which inceases power by about 50 horsepower.
Notes
Another large crowd enjoyed practice. Friday usually draws the largest crowd of practice week. If the first two days of practice are an indication, tomorrow’s attendance could be huge.
Points leader Marcus Ericsson had the fastest lap in the morning warmup session for this afternoon’s GMr Grand Prix. Hondas took the first six spots and eigh of the top 10. Only the Penske Chevrolets of Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden were in the top group.
Pole sitter Chriastian Lundgaard was 13th, and Felix Rosenqvist, who starts second, was 19th.
Like a sculptor who has to make several attempts to make a poiece of art,who makes big mistakes and destroys the work in search of pergection, the beginning of the NTT Indycar season at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg began in chaos and ended in a great three way fight for the lead.
The last 20 laps or so had great racing as Marcus Ericsson tracked down Pato O’Ward to take the win. Scott Dixon hing on to third but never really threatened the top two.
I can’t recall watching a race where two cars became airborne in two separate incidents.
The promiose of a great weekend for Andretti Autosport ended in the walls and tire walls of St.Petersburg. Colton Herta and Romain Grosjean threw away their front row starts. Kyle Kirkwood recovered from contact to salvage 16th place.
Whuch leads me to wonder-is Kirkwood the driver I believed him to be? He had a fresh start with a strong team, showed speed until his qualifying incident yesterday, thenhas more contact during the race. I guess we need to wait a little longer to find out.
Great job by Callum Ilott finishing fifrth. The top fic=ve is big boost to Juncos Hollinh=ger. Augustin canapino did a solid job finishing the race.
Alexander Rossi finished fourth in his Arrow McLaren debut. I hope we will see this type of performance consistently from him in 2023.
The Andretti/Mclaren rivalry may becoma a Ganassi/McLaren battle. Tody’s results had Ganassi first and third and McLaren second and fourth. This matchup would be an intriguing battle as the two teasms who have tussled over drivers go head rto head. Sixteen more times, please.
The Foyt’s team misfortunes continue. I don’t know how one team can consistently be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The Indycar app did not work in the stands. I also heard from others at the track who had issues with it. It has not worked well all weekend. Let’s hope by Texas it is working properly.
I wonder why Indycar didn’y sweep the track during any of the caution periods,
Turfn three see,e=med the root of many of the troubles. The series might want to look at it before next March.
I will have a follow up story on the nrace tomorrow. Thanks for following along this weekend.
Ericsson Unveils 107th Indianapolis 500 Ticket at Hockey Game
INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Feb. 10, 2023) – NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Marcus Ericsson combined two of his passions – winning races and ice hockey – when he unveiled the ticket for the 107th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Friday night, Feb. 10 in Indianapolis.Ericsson earned his first victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” last May in the No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, and one of the many spoils for the winner is the honor of unveiling the ticket for the next year’s race.
The honor of the winning driver featured on the next year’s “500” ticket dates to Mauri Rose’s appearance in 1948.Swedish native Ericsson lifted the cover from the colorful ticket, featuring a photo of him dousing his head in the winner’s famous bottle of milk, during Indy 500 Night at the Indy Fuel hockey game at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis. He is an avid hockey fan and played the sport as a youth before focusing on racing.
“I’m super excited to be here for Friday night hockey,” Ericsson said. “I’m a big hockey fan, playing hockey as a kid. I’ve been to a few (Fuel) games. It’s always a good time. Obviously, being the Indy 500 Night is extra special, and unveiling this year’s Indy 500 ticket is really exciting.”
It was the second Indy 500-related honor in as many weeks for Ericsson, who is entering his fifth NTT INDYCAR SERIES season this year. He and team owner Chip Ganassi also received their “Baby Borg” replicas of the Borg-Warner Trophy for winning the Indy 500 last week during the series’ open test at The Thermal Club near Palm Springs, California.
Ericsson will defend his Indianapolis 500 victory Sunday, May 28 in the 107th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with live coverage starting at 11 a.m. ET on NBC and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Tickets for the Indy 500 and all Month of May activities are on sale at IMS.com, by calling the IMS Ticket Office at 317-492-6700 or by visiting the Ticket Office.The 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season starts Sunday, March 5 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding in St. Petersburg, Florida (live, noon ET, NBC and INDYCAR Radio Network).
The Indianapolis 500 ticket unveil moves to another new venue as Marcus Ericsson will unveil the ticket for the 2023 race Friday, February 10, during the second intermission of the Indy Fuel hockey game at Indiana Farmer’s Coliseum.
Ericsson, winner of the 106th running of the 500 in 2022, is a former hockey player and will get to see his image on the ticket for the first time. The revealing of the ticket means fans will soon have tickets in their possession.
Daly to Attempt Daytona 500
Conor Daly will attempt to qualify for next weekend’s Daytona 500 mile race. Daly will drive car 50 for The Money Team, a team owned by boing legend Floyd Mayweather. Daly will compete for one of four open spots in the field. Daly may race for The Money Team up to six more times in 2023.
Indy NXT Broadcast Times Set
The broadcast start times for the Indy NXT series have been set. All races are on Peacock. The 14 race schedule features two ovals and three doubleheaders.
Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing led the third Spring Training session as lap timnes continue to improve. 13 drivers had times in the 1:38 range. Yesterday’s leader, Colton Herta, was 14th. Kyle Kirkwood, who missed the second round yesterday afternoon, was third fastest nthis morning. Kirkwood was second quick Thursday morning.
The session ended about 90 seconds early when Felix Rosenqvist suffered his third off road of the two days of practice.
The image of 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson is now on the Borg warner trophy, fixing his place oi Speedway history. The unveiling took place this morning at Union 50 in downtown Indianapolis. Through 2018, the winner’s image unveiling was a small public affair at the IMS Museum. In 2019 Simon Pagenaud first saw his face on the trophy in France. Helio Castroneves’ mage for 2021 occurred at the PRI show.
Following a short clip of the end of the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500, a brief video message from Kenny Brack,, the 1999 winner, and a fellow Swede of Ericsson, played.
IMS resident Doug Boles and Borg Warner representative Michelle Collins introduced Ericsson, who removed the covering from the trophy bas and had his first look of his face on the trophy.
Today’s affair was an elegant event that the Penske footprint all over it. A luncheon followed the invitation only ceremony.
Indycar photo
The likeness is one of the more authentic ones in the last few years. I have felt many of the recent image son the trophy looked pretty much the same. Ericsson’s image is very true to life.
From IMS- Invitation only, but streaming available.
Ericsson To Unveil Image on Borg-Warner Trophy Thursday in Indianapolis
Marcus Ericsson will unveil his likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy as the winner of the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at 11:30 a.m. ET Thursday, Oct. 27 at Union 50 in downtown Indianapolis. Ericsson, from Sweden, won “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” for the first time May 29 in the No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Ericsson and other special guests will be available for interviews following the ceremony at Union 50, a restaurant located on 620 N. East St. in the popular Mass Ave section of Indianapolis. Fans can watch the invitation-only event live onIMS.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 