Tag: NTT Indycar Series

Foyt Unveils 500 Livery for Hildebrand

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ABC Supply Unveils Homes For Our Troops-Themed Indy 500 Car and $1 Million Donation Match

BELOIT, Wis.—May. 9, 2022—When drivers start their engines at the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, race fans will see a new look for the No. 11 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet — and have a chance to make a million-dollar impact that supports military Veterans. Homes For Our Troops (HFOT), a nonprofit that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans to enable them to rebuild their lives, will be gifted the design of the Indy car by its sponsor, ABC Supply, to bring awareness to their mission. ABC Supply will also match all donations made to HFOT — up to $1 million total — from Saturday, May 21, through Monday, May 30.

A longtime supporter and friend of AJ Foyt Racing, ABC Supply continues its sponsorship of the team

in the Indy 500 while bringing attention to HFOT’s important work. With nearly 90 percent of its donations going directly to building homes and rebuilding lives, HFOT rarely advertises and relies on word-of-mouth awareness. The visibility at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will showcase their mission to a national audience. The car’s stars and stripes design celebrates American pride and prominently features the HFOT mission of “Building Homes. Rebuilding Lives.”

To date, HFOT has built and donated over 330 homes for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans. After the homes are built, the relationships between HFOT and their Veterans continue — the organization provides a pro-bono financial planner to assist with budgeting, homeownership education, a peer mentoring program and more.

“We are thrilled ABC Supply is choosing to spotlight Homes For Our Troops through this initiative,” says HFOT President and CEO Tom Landwermeyer. “In addition to generating revenue, it will raise much

needed awareness about our mission. ABC Supply has been a tremendous partner and we are grateful for their commitment to our mission of Building Homes and Rebuilding Lives.”

ABC Supply Co. Inc., the nation’s largest wholesale distributor of roofing, siding and other select exterior building products, has been a multimillion-dollar supporter of HFOT since 2020.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be back at the Indy 500 with AJ Foyt Racing and raise awareness for

our friends at Homes For Our Troops,” says Mike Jost, chief operating officer of ABC Supply. “HFOT is an incredible organization and we’re honored to play a part in bringing more attention to the great work they do.

“I think the fans will love it, and I think the fans will be so happy to see the American flag — especially

with our team,” says A.J. Foyt. “I would like to thank ABC Supply for supporting Homes For Our Troops. It’s great.”

“To support this organization at the Speedway, bring attention to Veterans and some of the challenges that they face, and to highlight the things that people and organizations like Homes For Our Troops are

doing to give them opportunities to better their lives is such a special thing to be able to be a part of,” says J.R. Hildebrand, driver of the No. 11 car.

Learn more about the “Homes For Our Troops” Indy car and how the organization is supporting Veterans.

Donate to Homes For Our Troops from May 21-30 and We’ll Match Donations Up to $1 Million

Foyt Reveals 500 Livery for Car 11

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A release today from A. J. Foyt Racing:

ABC Supply Unveils Homes For Our Troops-Themed Indy 500 Car and $1 Million Donation Match

BELOIT, Wis.—May. 9, 2022—When drivers start their engines at the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, race fans will see a new look for the No. 11 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet — and have a chance to make a million-dollar impact that supports military Veterans. Homes For Our Troops (HFOT), a nonprofit that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans to enable them to rebuild their lives, will be gifted the design of the Indy car by its sponsor, ABC Supply, to bring awareness to their mission. ABC Supply will also match all donations made to HFOT — up to $1 million total — from Saturday, May 21, through Monday, May 30.

A longtime supporter and friend of AJ Foyt Racing, ABC Supply continues its sponsorship of the team

in the Indy 500 while bringing attention to HFOT’s important work. With nearly 90 percent of its donations going directly to building homes and rebuilding lives, HFOT rarely advertises and relies on word-of-mouth awareness. The visibility at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will showcase their mission to a national audience. The car’s stars and stripes design celebrates American pride and prominently features the HFOT mission of “Building Homes. Rebuilding Lives.”

To date, HFOT has built and donated over 330 homes for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans. After the homes are built, the relationships between HFOT and their Veterans continue — the organization provides a pro-bono financial planner to assist with budgeting, homeownership education, a peer mentoring program and more.

“We are thrilled ABC Supply is choosing to spotlight Homes For Our Troops through this initiative,” says HFOT President and CEO Tom Landwermeyer. “In addition to generating revenue, it will raise much

needed awareness about our mission. ABC Supply has been a tremendous partner and we are grateful for their commitment to our mission of Building Homes and Rebuilding Lives.”

ABC Supply Co. Inc., the nation’s largest wholesale distributor of roofing, siding and other select exterior building products, has been a multimillion-dollar supporter of HFOT since 2020.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be back at the Indy 500 with AJ Foyt Racing and raise awareness for

our friends at Homes For Our Troops,” says Mike Jost, chief operating officer of ABC Supply. “HFOT is an incredible organization and we’re honored to play a part in bringing more attention to the great work they do.

“I think the fans will love it, and I think the fans will be so happy to see the American flag — especially

with our team,” says A.J. Foyt. “I would like to thank ABC Supply for supporting Homes For Our Troops. It’s great.”

“To support this organization at the Speedway, bring attention to Veterans and some of the challenges that they face, and to highlight the things that people and organizations like Homes For Our Troops are

doing to give them opportunities to better their lives is such a special thing to be able to be a part of,” says J.R. Hildebrand, driver of the No. 11 car.

Learn more about the “Homes For Our Troops” Indy car and how the organization is supporting Veterans.

Donate to Homes For Our Troops from May 21-30 and We’ll Match Donations Up to $1 Million

A Huge Thank You as The Pit Window Turns Six

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Today is the sixth anniversary of The Pit Window. I had no idea when I started this little blog in 2015 that it would still be here in 2022. Thanks to this column I have had so many experiences that I never dreamed of in the Indycar world. I love sharing my racing adventures with you.

Inspiration for The Pit Window began after I started taking a writing class at the Life Enrichment Center in Tampa. I was a novice snowbird seeking things to do in the area. I fell in love with the class on the first day and I am still attending the class. Many of you are wondering when it will start helping my writing.

I have met so many great people and have had the opportunity to speak with many stars of the Indycar and sportscar world. I am grateful for every minute.

The Pit Window will be around for at least a couple more years. I want to thank my core of loyal readers and those that find me every now and then. I enjoy discussing racing with you. I appreciate every reader.

Thank yopu to the media relations folks at Indycar for their help in allowing me into some sacred spaces.

I could not have sustained this little venture without the help of several members of the regular Indycar media. You have made me feel welcome, and I have learned so much from all of you. From my first day in the media center, I have been impressed by the media’s dedication and professionalism.

I am not sure if The Pit Window has another six years left, but we will go as long as we can. I can’t thank you enough for your support.

At the Quarter Mark; Final Thoughts on Barber and a Look Inside the Stats

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Photo: The field lines up in turn 15 for the start of Sunday’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama

First, I want to thank Kyle McIness for the great photos he provided for The Pit Window this weekend.

A few final thoughts:

I watched the replay of the race last evening. I’m not sure what Grosjean was doing with Rahal, but the second seemed unnecessary. Grosjean’s move on Colton Herta was even more egregious, as he tried to pin him against the pit wall. The move was not something a driver should do to anyone, but especially not to a teammate.

While the race was processional at the front of the pack, there was a lot of good action at the back.

I like the happy Pato O’Ward better than the pouty Pato.

Alex Palou is the Iceman 2.0.

Inside the Stats

I broke down some performance indicators for the first four races. The results indicate a very competitive season so far. What many feared would a team Penske runaway may not be the case. Here are some random categories chosen by The Pit Window panel of experts. (Me):

Top 5s

Will Power 4

Alex Palou 3

Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon, and Pato O’Ward 2 each

Podiums

Palou 3

Newgarden, McLaughlin 2 each

Fast Six

Five drivers tied with 2:

Rinus VeeKay, Alexander Rossi, Felix Rosenqvist, Palou, McLaughlin

Laps Led

McLaughlin 235

Rinus VeeKay 75

Josef Newgarden 37

Colton Herta 28

Rookie Standings

Christian Lundgaard 57

Kyle Kirkwood 46

David Malukas 44

Callum Ilott 37

Devlin DeFrancesco 33

Tatiana Calderon 25

Tomorrow, May coverage at IMS begins. This week I will talk about three former winners who don’t get a lot of mentions when 500 winners are discussed. I have a personal connection to each of these drivers.

Quick Thoughts- Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama

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Photo by Kyle McIness

Youth ruled the weekend. 21 year old Rinus VeeKay won the pole and dominated the first part of the race. 22 year old Pato O’Ward won the race, passing VeeKay in turn following the final pit stop. The average of the podium-22.7 years. The Fast Six yesterday had an average age of 26.6, thanks to old guys who are 30 years old.

Pato O’Ward

Alex Palou earned his 12th podium and has taken the p[oints lead by three over Scott McLaughlin.

There was no better driver on track today than Will Power. He started 19th and finished fourth. Power has finished in the top four in all four races.

Andretti Autosport had another good day spoiled. Alexander Rossi had a solid fourth place pretty much locked up until a slow second pit stop. Colton Herta charged to the top ten but spun attempting to make a pass.

The drivers trying a three stop strategy were thwarted by Callum Ilott’s untimely spin and the caution it brought. Josef Newgarden was hurt the most by the yellow flag.

Will the Chevy dominance continue through the end of May? The engine has won every race in 2022. Honda is close, but just enough behind to not get a win.

Not only did Team Penske not win a race for the first time this season, but the team missed the podium for the first time.

The rookies suffered their worst race of the season. Christian Lundgaard was the highest first year finisher in 15th.

Is Rossi returning to his villain role? There was a minor incident with Graham Rahal late in the race.

While the front of the field was basically static, there were some good battles deeper in the field. Herta did not pass cars easily. It was fun watching Power move forward.

Scott Dixon missed the podium at Barber for the first time in 12 races.

Felix Rosenqvist once again didn’t take advantage of a good qualifying, finishing 16th.

I will have more on the Barber weekend tomorrow. Thanks for following along this weekend.

Wet or Dry? Tire Strategy Key for Race Day at Barber

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Today’s Schedule

Sunday, May 1

  • Gates open 7:30AM
  • USF 2000 Race #2 8:45 – 9:25AM
  • INDY LIGHTS Race 9:45 – 10:40AM Peacock
  • NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race 12:00 – 2:00PM NBC, Peacock
  • Indy Pro 2000 Race #2 2:30 – 3:20PM

Or is it rain day? Chances of rain have diminished some, but the radar shows Birmingham covered in green from noon to 3 pm. The showers may to be scattered. As long as there is no severe weather, the race will run.

If rain tires are needed after the race starts, I think that favors Josef Newgarden. He won the rain delayed race in 2018 when Tim Cindric called Newgarden in for rain tires before the rain began. If the start is declared a wet start, this race is up for grabs.

Pato O’Ward expressed concern yesterday in the press conference about the current stock of rain tires being two years old and never used. Rinus VeeKay said he has experience racing in the rain inkarts but not much in race cars.

Pato O’Ward

Should conditions be normal, I get the sense most drivers want to be on blacks for most of the race. The reds did not get much time yesterday in practice because of the late red flag. I didn’t see much lap time difference between the two tires in qualifying yesterday.

Rain or shine, it is May 1 and Indycar has cars on track.

Notes

Will Power and Scott Dixon have their worst starting positions for a race at Barber. In the 11 previous races here, the two veterans were in the Fast Six a combine 20 times. A 10th Barber podium for Dixon will be difficult to get today.

Scott McLaughlin

There are subtle shifts in team leadership happening at Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing. Scott Mclaughlin has been Penske’s overall best qualifier this year, and he is not far behind Josef Newgarden for the points lead. Alex Palou is backing up last year’s championship with strong qualifying runs and good finishes.

I will have an eye on Alexander Rossi today. He put in a great qualifying effort after his team, with help from other Andretti crew and Honda, put his car back together in two hours after his practice crash yesterday morning. Look for him on the podium.

Romain Grosjean and Josef Newgarden, who had a great duel for the win at Long Beach, make up row four.

Enjoy the race. If you are coming to the track, stay dry.

Ilott Leads Final Warm Up

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Photo by Kyle McIness

Callum Ilott posted the fastest lap in the final warm up for Sunday’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. The session ran dry despite a slight chance of rain. just a few scattered drops fell.

Alex Palou had the second fastest time. Marcus Ericsson, Scott Dixon, and Alexander Rossi completed the top five.

Eight minutes into the 30 minute session Tatiana Calderon slid off the track in turn 2 and made contact with the barrier. Calderon was unhurt. The rest of the round was green.

Ilott will start 11th tomorrow.

Pole sitter Rinus VeeKay was 20th for this session.

All eyes turn to the skies now to see what kind of race we will have tomorrow. The rain looks to be scattered, which will make for interesting strategy. This race will be intriguing if it is run in completely dry conditions.

The top 13:

VeeKay Takes Pole in Youthful Fast Six

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Photo: Kyle McInnes

Rinus VeeKay tok the pole for tomorrow’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama with a lap of 1:06.25. Pato O’Ward, last year’s polke winner, will join VeeKay on the front row. O’Ward was 0.15 seconds slower than VeeKay.

Alex Palou, 2021 race winner and series champion, will start third, the same position he won the rac from last year. Scott McLaughlin, Alexander Rossi, and Felix Rosenqvist round out the first three rows.

As startling as the names in the Fast Six were, equally shocking was who was not in it. Scott Dixon missed the Fast Six at Barber for the first time. He will start 13th. Power had been in the Fast Six nine times in the 11 races here, will start 19th. Josef Newgarden will start seventh and Colton Herta 10th. Romain Grosjean will start eighth.

Colton Herta waited a bit too long to make his final run in the round of 12. That session ended early when Marcus Ericsson went off track and brought out the red flag with 25 seconds left.

The results set up a Fast Six with drivers who had 16 poles between them and an average age of 26 years.

In the Fast Six, VeeKay was the last car on track and nipped O’Ward at the line. The pole was VeeKay’s second career pole. The first came aqt the 2020 Harvest Classic Race 1 at IMS.

Notes

Veekay is the fourth different pole winner and ECR is the fourth different team to win a pole in 2022. Pole winners have won two of the three races this season.

Chevy has been quite strong this year. The manufacturer has three poles and has won the first three races of 2022.

How good are rookies Callum Ilott and Kyle Kirkwood? Ilott will nstart b11th and Kirkwood lines up 21st, but people were disappointed that neither advanced further today.

David Malukas continues to struggle. He has had wall contact every weekend this season.

Kudos to Alexander Rossi’s team and others from Andretti Autosport for getting the 27 car back together after after the big crash this morning. Rossi rewarded them as the onlky Andretti car to make the Fast Six.

Will rain affect the brace tomorrow? The latest radar looks as if there will be rain this afternoon, possibly during the final practice session later today.

Tomorrow’s forecast as of 2:50 pm Central calls for a 46-48 % chance of rain during race time tomorrow, with a better chance for in the hours leading up to the noon start.

Results:

1. (21) Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, 01:06.2507 (124.980 mph)
2. (5) Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet, 01:06.4003 (124.698)
3. (10) Alex Palou, Honda, 01:06.4415 (124.621)
4. (3) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 01:06.4967 (124.517)
5. (27) Alexander Rossi, Honda, 01:06.5549 (124.409)
6. (7) Felix Rosenqvist, Chevrolet, 01:06.6410 (124.248)
7. (2) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 01:06.3348 (124.821)
8. (28) Romain Grosjean, Honda, 01:06.3820 (124.733)
9. (15) Graham Rahal, Honda, 01:06.6339 (124.261)
10. (26) Colton Herta, Honda, 01:06.7295 (124.083)
11. (77) Callum Ilott, Chevrolet, 01:07.2000 (123.214)
12. (8) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 01:07.3561 (122.929)
13. (9) Scott Dixon, Honda, 01:06.5142 (124.485)
14. (30) Christian Lundgaard, Honda, 01:06.7462 (124.052)
15. (45) Jack Harvey, Honda, 01:06.6511 (124.229)
16. (06) Helio Castroneves, Honda, 01:06.8138 (123.926)
17. (51) Takuma Sato, Honda, 01:06.7541 (124.037)
18. (18) David Malukas, Honda, 01:06.8898 (123.786)
19. (12) Will Power, Chevrolet, 01:06.7775 (123.994)
20. (29) Devlin DeFrancesco, Honda, 01:07.0242 (123.537)
21. (14) Kyle Kirkwood, Chevrolet, 01:06.8213 (123.913)
22. (20) Conor Daly, Chevrolet, 01:07.0350 (123.518)
23. (4) Dalton Kellett, Chevrolet, 01:07.6869 (122.328)
24. (60) Simon Pagenaud, Honda, 01:07.1052 (123.388)
25. (11) Tatiana Calderon, Chevrolet, 01:07.9248 (121.900)
26. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Honda, 01:09.0075 (119.987) 
 

VeeKay Leads Disjointed Practice; Rossi Crashes

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Photo by Kyle McIness

Rinus VeeKay took second practice honors with a lap of 1:05.9284. The Ed Carpenter Racing driver was the only one with a lap under 1:06 in the final practice before qualifying for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. Pato O’Ward was close with a quick circuit of 1:06.0136.

Twqo red flags interrupted the round and brought Indycar’s new time policy into play. Alexander Rossi spun as he entered the front strecth and and backed in to the guard rail, sustaining heavy damage to the rear of the car. the attenuator cut the right front tire of Helio Castroneves’ car. Rossi was running fifth at the time. With no chance to improve his time, he ended 20th. The red flag lasted 15 minutes, which used up the extra time allotted for completing a practice session.

The clock stopped at first, then began running again before the green flag waved again.

With about 12 minutes left Will Power hit a kerb, slid into the gravel and stalled in the turn 8-9 area. The green returned with seven minutes left.

Romain Grosjean and Josef Newgarden also had off track excursions and were able to continue.

Notes

Scott McLaughlin continues to be the fastest Team Penske driver. McLaughlin was fourth this morning. Josef Newgarden was 11th and Power 16th.

Callum Ilott was again the top rookie with another top ten run, in ninth

Seven teams had drivers in the top 10.

The teams that tested at barber three weeks ago have had the best results in the two sessions.

Qualifying begins at Noon Central time on Peacock.

Results-Top 13

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