Tag: NTT Indycar Series

Fast Friday Thoughts

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Photo: Indycar, Walt Kuhn

We got the high speeds we expected. Marco Andretti’s 233.491 mph lap was the fastest lap turned since 1996. Will he back it up in qualifying tomorrow?

I was surprised to see the Penske cars struggle so much today. They seemed to find some speed late in the day, but still couldn’t crack the top ten.

Graham Rahal and Helio Castroneves had some close calls with the walls late in the day.

Could we see an all Honda Fast Nine? Conor Daly was the only Chevy in the top ten, but was in the 20s with a four lap average. the next quickest Chevy was Will Power in 11th.

It’s a shame that the draw for qualifying order can put a fast driver in an unfavorable spot for qualifying. Tomorrow the first ten or twelve drivers to qualify should have a big advantage. Maybe it’s time to use Fast Friday speeds as the order of qualifying or maybe let the top ten choose their spots then draw for the rest.

The qualifying order

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I would like to see the fastest driver on Saturday get a point.

Today’s top speeds:

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Fast Friday- Added Boost =Higher Speeds?

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Photo: Indycar, Chris Owens

Today’s Schedule:

11-5:30 Practice NBC Gold

5:45 Draw for qualifying order

Records won’t be broken, but there should be a lot laps in the 230 mph range today, and possibly a pole average Sunday above 230.  Cars will get added boost today and for qualifying this weekend. In the past each car received an extra 20.3 psi of boost for qualifying weekend. For 2020, the increased boost rises to 21.7 psi. The increase is to compensate for the extra weight, approximately 58 pounds, of the aeroscreen.

In theory it should keep the speeds the same. Today with cars in traffic we could see some high speeds. The pole winner has not averaged more than 230 mph since Scott Dixon in 2017. We could see that mark again this weekend.

The pole should come down to a duel between the Penske cars and Ed Carpenter’s team. Andretti Autosport has shown some strength the first two days of practice, but Fast Friday is a completely different day.

Follow along on Twitter @Pitwindowtoo for updates on the speed charts.

Notes

Fernando Alonso was checked and released from the infield care center.

Ben Hanley did complete his refresher test and can practice tomorrow.

I went to Gate 1 for a couple of hours today. The sound from outside is a bit muffled, but it was nice to hear the cars running. About a dozen people in small groups had settled in with lawn chairs.

The track PA is on and regular announcements are made as if fans were inside the track.

From the Inside

I chatted with a friend who is allowed inside yesterday morning.

He said the atmosphere is like a test day.

People  are only allowed to be in  designated spots in the garage are and the pits, but are free to roam the rest of the grounds.

Seats  which fans were not allowed to occupy had stickers applied. He believes they were applied after seats were assigned. That makes sense when you look at the pattern of the stickers.

Practice Day 2- Andretti Team Looks to Stay Up Front; More Race Set Up Work

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Photo: Fernando Alonso. Photo by Joe Skibinski, Indycar

Good morning from the northwest media center annex. Practice day 2 should see more than the 2, 444 laps turned yesterday as there will be no break for Rookie and refresher tests. Ben Hanley still needs to complete his refresher. He will get time before the track opens for practice this morning. Hanley needs 15 laps run between 205 and 210 mph followed by 15 laps above 210.

Most teams will probably work on race setups today. there is no qualifying pressure for two reasons. The most obvious one is that no one will be bumped. Keep your car together and run a decent speed and you are in the race.  Second, tomorrow the cars get the extra boost for qualifying so there is really no need to worry about a qualifying setup today.

Will the Andretti cars be up front again today? Can Rossi, Herta, and Veach join their teammates at the front? Scott Dixon looked strong yesterday as well. Dixon struggled at IMS last year.

Tony Kanaan took Dalton Kellett’s car out for six laps to help the rookie get u to speed to complete his rookie test. I think TK has a future as a driver coach.

I’ll be back with a wrap up this evening. If something newsworthy happens during the day, I will keep you informed.

First Day Thoughts

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Photo: Indycar, James Black

It was a strange feeling to be watching from just a few miles away. The track looked to be in good shape, but it was very odd to see the stands empty.  I think the weekend will just emphasize the emptiness, especially when someone runs a really quick lap.

Conor Daly’s car looks amazing coming down the front stretch. It is I think the most telegenic car in the field. It really pops.

I found it hard to get used to Fernando Alonso in a black, white, and green livery. I also forgot Ruoff was his sponsor.

Andretti Autosport had their best first day at a track this year. Let’s see if they are still near the top on Friday.

Ben Hanley will have a busy day tomorrow. he was given 30 minutes on track after practice ended, but only ran a few laps. He needs to complete his refresher test first.

It seemed as if most of the rookies were feeling out the track today. Alex Palou finished in the top 10, but the others were near the bottom of the charts.  I don’t put much stock in the first practice. I look for more speed from this talented group tomorrow.

This is certainly one of the more colorful fields in a while. There is a lot red/orange, some yellow, and some blue. The pace laps should look great with the red Corvette leading the pack.

I know the media that is onsite means well, but their photos this morning before practice were difficult to see. I do appreciate that they are there to keep us up to date. I hope to be back next year.

Tomorrow on The Pit Window is the debut of Pole Tales. I will share some of the more dramatic pole runs in 500 history.  The good news is there will be no Bump Tales this year. No bumping does have its advantages.

The time sheet from today

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Practice Begins for a Very Different 500

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Good morning from the 71st and Michigan Road media center annex of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Practice begins today for the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 on August 23.

Today’s schedule all times ET:

11-1 Veterans

1-3  Rookie Orientation and refreshers

3-5:30  All cars

Coverage: NBC Gold

The weather forecast seems to be improving for the week. Today should be dry.

My race preview will come out next week.  Some story lines to follow for now:

No Fans

For the first time in he race’s history, the 500 will take place with no fans watching.  How will it affect the drivers?  I have wondered if having fans in the stands on race day affects the drivers’ perspectives in certain areas of the track.

The winner will not hear  cheers while on the victory podium or see the fans waving on his cool down lap. That will be disappointing to whomever wins.

The pre race grid will be eerily quiet with the throngs that usually pack the front stretch.

We have seen two races without fans. They seemed weird, but the 500 will seem even stranger, I think. The energy fans bring to this race is unlike the buzz at any other track.

Aeroscreen

The aeroscreen gets its first test on the speedway this week. We know from iIowa that it performs as it was designed to. Will it hold up at higher speeds in a similar incident? How will it affect handling? Will passing be more difficult?

Will the extra weight slow the cars? Will the aeroscreen act as front downforce?

Indycar has once again modified the cooling system with larger tubing and a filtration system to keep debris out of the cockpit. I will be looking for what the drivers think of the changes.

Helio’s Last Ride for Penske?

2020 could be the final year in which Helio Castroneves drives at Indianapolis for Roger Penske. The three time 500 winner has been driving full time for Penske in IMSA, but that program ends after this season. The full time drivers have been told to seek other rides. Castroneves has expressed interest in returning to Indycar full time.  He may have to settle for a mid pack team next year. How Castroneves does this year may determine where he ends up next year.

No Women in the Field

For the first time in 20 years the field will not have a female driver. Pippa Mann could no put together a program for 2020. It may be a few years before we see the next woman drive in the 500.

Bump Tales Bumped This Year,  Pole Tales Coming

Because there will be no bumping, Bump Tales will spend the year in quarantine. Tomorrow, look for the first edition of Pole Tales, stories of how poles were won before the Fast Nine came into being.

 

 

 

 

Dragonspeed Fills the Field at 33; Hoosier Hundred Returns

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Yesterday Dragonspeed confirmed Ben Hanley will drive the number 81 in the 104th running for the Indianapolis 500.  The entry is the 33rd for the race, avoiding a less than full  field for the first time since 1947. Given the economic climate I think it is quite an accomplishment to have 33 cars this year.

Two other possible entries, Juncos Racing and Top Gun Racing, decided not to pursue an entry until next year. Juncos ran out of time to secure sponsorship and get a car built in time. Top Gun had a sponsor withdraw because there would be no track activation. Cutting the purse in half also figured into their decision. R. C. Enerson was scheduled to drive for Top Gun.

Five rookies are entered- Pato O’Ward, Oliver Askew, Rinus VeeKay,  Alex Palou, and Dalton Kellett. O’Ward passed his rookie test last year but did not qualify for the race.

This year’s race will be the first without a female driver since 1999. Pippa Mann was unable to put a program together for this year.

Because there are only 33 cars, there will be no Last Row Shootout next Sunday, but the Fats Nine will still take place.

The entry list, thanks to Eric Smith of Race Review Online:

Chevrolet (17)

Team Penske (4) – Will Power, Simon Pagenaud, Josef Newgarden and Helio Castroneves

Ed Carpenter Racing (3) – Ed Carpenter, Conor Daly, Rinus VeeKay R

Arrow McLaren SP (3) – Pato O’Ward R, Oliver Askew R, Fernando Alonso

AJ Foyt Racing (3) – Tony Kanaan, Charlie Kimball, Dalton Kellett R

Carlin (1) – Max Chilton

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (2) – Sage Karam, JR Hildebrand

DragonSpeed (1) – Ben Hanley

Honda (16)

Andretti Autosport (6) – Zach Veach, Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay, James Hinchcliffe, Colton Herta, Marco Andretti

Chip Ganassi Racing (3) – Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist, Marcus Ericsson

Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan Racing (3) – Graham Rahal, Takuma Sato, Spencer Pigot (Citrone/Buhl partnership)

Dale Coyne Racing (3) – Santino Ferrucci, Alex Palou R, James Davison

Meyer Shank Racing (1) – Jack Harvey (Andretti alliance)

Hoosier Hundred Gets New Life

The Hoosier Hundred, thought to be gone after 2019, will return to Indiana State Fairgrounds August 23. The race began in 1953 as part of the USAC national championship. It is now an event in the USAC Silver Crown series. Ther ace is scheduled for 8pm, well after the 500 is over, but activities begin with practice and qualifying during the 500.

The race is able to return because of the pandemic. The track was going to be resurfaced with a limestone base and become a full time harness racing facility. The work never got started due to the pandemic, so this may truly be the final Hoosier 100.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday at 10 am ET at usactickets.com. Seating capacity is limited to 25%.

Indianapolis 500 Daily Broadcast Schedule

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here is the broadcast schedule leading up to the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500. The race day broadcast begins at 1 pm ET with the green flag at approximately 2:30 pm ET. Practices are only on NBC Gold, which i think NBC should open up at a deeply discounted price. They had a half price sale at the mid point of the season last year.

 

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