Tag: XPel Grand Prix

Today’s schedule: All Times Central Warmup and IndyNXT on FS!; IndyCar race on FOX.

Good morning from an already warm Road America. The temperature should be around 91 degrees by the green flag. If you’re at the track, remmeber to hydrate early and often.

There will actually be a third race today, as many fans from Indianapolis will be racing home to watch Game 7 of the NBA Finals. I will be among them, so there will be a very brief post race report. Go Pacers!

As for the featured race, could this be a very good day for Louis Foster? He has looked strong all weekend. Alex Palou looks to be in position to shake off his post 500 funk and return to victory lane. Kyle Kirkwood starts right behind Palou, and the two title contenders might have an interesting battle today.

Tire strategy will be key this afternoon. Graham Rahal ran the Fast Six on primaries, so he has plenty of alternate tires to se in the race. Other drivers used scuffed alternates. We will have a better idea of tire plans when the starting tire compounds are declared after warmups.

I will be back with warmup results and starting tire choices later. stay safe out there today.

Today’s schedule all sessions on FS. Times Central

9 am- IndyNXT Practice 2

10 am- IndyCar Practice 2

12:30 pm Indy NXT Qualifications

1:30 pm IndyCar Qualifications

Weather from @Indycar_Wxman

if you are at the track, please stay hydrated. Although there is a breeze, it may n ot provide much relief. Stay safe, fans.

Temperatures for practice will not be too bad, but at qualifying time things could change. How will the cars react to very different conditions from yesterday/ Will the hybrid units have any issues?

I could see a second straight Team Penske front row lockout today. They were very strong Friday and at Road America the team is usually quite good.

The most puzzling result yesterday was Colton Herta in 23rd. Herta usually does well here, and he won the pole two years ago.

I plan to watch practice from turn 7. I’m unsure of my vantage point for qualifying, assuming I go outside for it. I will be back after practice with results and qualifying groups.

Welcome to a cloudy, cool day at the National Park of Speed. The threat of rain has diminished, but the clouds are expected to linger most of the day, with a high of around 78 degrees. Enjoy this balmy weather. The forecast for tomorrow and Sunday calls for highs in the low to mid 90s with heat indexes near 100 degrees. If you’re at the track, please remember to hydrate. A lot.

Things seem a bit subdued this morning, as many fans are recuperating from watching last night’s Pacers game. I watched from a restaurant in Elkhart Lake, and I could have sworn I was in downtown Indy. There will be a mad rush down I-65 Sunday after the race as people try to get back to indy in time to watch Game 7.

It hadn’t really dawned on me that 2025 is the 70th anniversary of Road America. As far as tracks go, this is an impressive age. IMS is 116 years old. The Milwaukee Mile dates to 1903. The free fan guide available at the track has a lot of information, including a nice two page history of the track.

There are some changes coming tothe track. The pedestrian bridge on the front stretch, built in 1961, will be replaced with a structure which will accommodate both pedestrians and golf carts. The North paddock area will be paved. Renovations will be made to suites and the press paddock.

On track, barriers on driver’s left at turns 4-5 and turns 13-14 will be straightened. The barrier bases will be removed and reconstructed.

The are at the kink just off the track surface has been redone with what is called “grasscrete. It’s a perforated strip f concrete which allows grass to grow through it. Its purpose is to eliminate dust thrown on the track and allow for a cleaner exit.

I’ll be back with more later. i am going out to explore the grounds and see what else is new here.

IndyCar has sought a third engine manufacturer for awhile now, but with the announcement that that a new power formula has been pushed back to 2028, that quest is a bit moot right now. Still the number three still lurk throughout the paddock, as in who will be the third race winner of 2025?

This weekend will be the 11th race at Road America since the series returned in 2016. Two races took place in 2020. Last year was heonly time I have missed this event, and when I planned ny 2025 schedule, everything else revolved around a return to Road America.

The first practice is at 4:30 pm eastern today on FS2.

Last Sunday’s amazing race at Gateway showed every indication that he winner would not be named Alex Palou or Kyle Kirkwood. Team Penske locked out the front row and took three of the first five starting spots. In the end, Kirkwood won his third race of the year, and second in a row. Palou has won at Road America, and Kirkwood had a track career best of fifth last season.

Like the Madison, Illinois oval, Road America has seen dominance by Team Penske. Last year they swept the podium. Will Team Penske salvage something from what has been a dismal year on Sunday?

Pato O’Ward is second in points depite not winning a race so far this season. In 2020 Race 2, he was nipped with two laps to go by Felix Rosenqvist. O’Ward is arguably the leading candidate for race winner number three.

Colton Herta was on the pole in 2023, but a questionable strategy call cost him a victory. He has been close, and this might be his weekend.

Weather may be a factor with high temperatures getting into the 90s on Saturday and Sunday.

I’m going with O’Ward to beak though this weekend. He will maintain his slight edge over Kirkwood in the standings, but Palou will still keep his healthy lead.