Race one from Belle Isle takes place today at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Dario Franchitti won pole for race one but because of an early engine at Indianapolis, will have to serve a ten spot grid penalty, relegating the four-time series champion to eleventh. EJ Viso will be promoted to the first spot on the starting grid with Mike Conway joining the Venezuelan on the front row.
James Jakes will start a career-high third with defending Izod IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay starting in fourth. Hondas occupy the next four positions with Alex Tagliani in fifth, rookie Tristan Vautier sixth, Takuma Sato seventh and Simon Pagenaud eighth. Will Power and Sebastián Saavedra round out the top ten.
Franchitti will be eleventh, next to two-time Belle Isle winner Helio Castroneves. AJ Allmendinger starts thirteenth in what could be the final IndyCar weekend for him. Sébastien Bourdais starts fourteenth in his 100th career start. Defending Belle Isle race winner Scott Dixon starts fifteenth. Justin Wilson in down in sixteenth ahead of Simona de Silvestro, points leader Marco Andretti, Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan and James Hinchcliffe.
Ryan Briscoe starts twenty-first in his first race for Panther Racing. Ed Carpenter will start twenty-second ahead of Graham Rahal, Josef Newgarden and Charlie Kimball. Rahal, Newgarden and Kimball are all serving ten spot grid penalties for engine changes made at Indianapolis.
In qualifying for Sunday's race, Mike Conway won pole position with a time of 1:18.0977. James Jakes will start second. Will Power and Ryan Hunter-Reay make up row two. EJ Viso and Simon Pagenaud will start on row three. The Hondas of Scott Dixon and Justin Wilson make up row four. Chevrolet has the next six positions with Helio Castroneves and James Hinchcliffe on row five, Sebastián Saavedra and AJ Allmendinger on row six and Ryan Briscoe and Marco Andretti on row seven.
Former Ganassi teammates Graham Rahal and Dario Franchitti make up row eight ahead of Simona de Silvestro and Charlie Kimball. Tony Kanaan starts nineteenth with Tristan Vautier starting twentieth. Takuma Sato and Sébastien Bourdais make up row eleven with Ed Carpenter, Josef Newgarden and Alex Tagliani rounding out the field.
Sunday's race can also be seen at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Update: Sunday Morning
Mike Conway starts where he left off on Saturday. Conway won his first career pole yesterday and he will lead the field to the green flag today coming off his second career win. Fellow Brit James Jakes also starts on row one. James Jakes started third yesterday but fell like a rock but managed a top ten after Ryan Briscoe ran into the tires. Will Power starts third after finishing eighth yesterday, next to yesterday's runner-up Ryan Hunter-Reay. Car #5 of EJ Viso will start in fifth position. Viso had a boost problem yesterday which dropped the Venezuelan to seventeenth. Simon Pagenaud starts sixth, his best starting position of the season. Scott Dixon and Justin Wilson start on row four. Wilson held off a late charge by Dixon yesterday to take the final step on the podium.
Josef Newgarden finished seventh in race one and will have to start twenty-fourth today. Dario Franchitti starts sixteenth. Sebastián Saavedra starts eleventh after an accident ended his day early yesterday. He starts in front of AJ Allmendinger and Briscoe; two drivers who also had accidents end their race one.
Other notables: Helio Castroneves starts ninth, James Hinchcliffe tenth, Marco Andretti fourteenth, Graham Rahal fifteenth, Simona de Silvestro seventeenth, Tony Kanaan nineteenth, Tristan Vautier twentieth and Sébastien Bourdais twenty-second.
Coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC, with green flag at 3:50 p.m.
Covering All Motorsports. From Indianapolis to Le Mans, Daytona to Monaco.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Friday, May 31, 2013
Tagliani Leads Wild First Practice
Alex Tagliani was the fastest in Friday practice with a time of 1:18.2096. The Hondas of Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden were second and third with the Chevrolets of Will Power and Ryan Hunter-Reay rounding out the top five.
Mike Conway was sixth in his first race weekend at Dale Coyne Racing. James Jakes was seventh ahead of Helio Castroneves, Simon Pagenaud and Takuma Sato.
Six red flags slowed Friday practice at Belle Isle. Almost immediately a red flag came out for Josef Newgarden stopping on track. Ryan Briscoe brought out the second red for a spin. The third red was thrown when ducks were walking on the race course. Scott Dixon made it four when he stalled and James Hinchcliffe was the reason for the fifth red flag when the Canadian got into the tires at turn one. With a little more than fifteen minutes remaining, James Jakes stalled on track bringing out the sixth red flag.
Due to the red flags there was a limited amount of time during practice and one second only covered the top eleven times. Justin Wilson was eleventh, ahead of the Andretti Autosport teammates EJ Viso and points leader Marco Andretti. Chevrolets took positions fourteenth through seventeenth with Sebastián Saavedra, James Hinchcliffe, Simona de Silvestro and AJ Allmendinger.
Graham Rahal was eighteenth ahead of former Newman-Haas teammate Sébastien Bourdais, who will be making his 100th start in American open-wheel racing at Belle Isle. Ryan Briscoe was twentieth in his first session with Panther Racing. Charlie Kimball was twenty-first ahead of Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan. Rookie Tristan Vautier was twenty-third, Ed Carpenter was twenty-fourth with Dario Franchitti being the slowest on the timesheet. Franchitti brushed the wall just prior to the red flag brought out by his teammate Dixon.
Firestone Fast Six qualifying for race one will be at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Mike Conway was sixth in his first race weekend at Dale Coyne Racing. James Jakes was seventh ahead of Helio Castroneves, Simon Pagenaud and Takuma Sato.
Six red flags slowed Friday practice at Belle Isle. Almost immediately a red flag came out for Josef Newgarden stopping on track. Ryan Briscoe brought out the second red for a spin. The third red was thrown when ducks were walking on the race course. Scott Dixon made it four when he stalled and James Hinchcliffe was the reason for the fifth red flag when the Canadian got into the tires at turn one. With a little more than fifteen minutes remaining, James Jakes stalled on track bringing out the sixth red flag.
Due to the red flags there was a limited amount of time during practice and one second only covered the top eleven times. Justin Wilson was eleventh, ahead of the Andretti Autosport teammates EJ Viso and points leader Marco Andretti. Chevrolets took positions fourteenth through seventeenth with Sebastián Saavedra, James Hinchcliffe, Simona de Silvestro and AJ Allmendinger.
Graham Rahal was eighteenth ahead of former Newman-Haas teammate Sébastien Bourdais, who will be making his 100th start in American open-wheel racing at Belle Isle. Ryan Briscoe was twentieth in his first session with Panther Racing. Charlie Kimball was twenty-first ahead of Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan. Rookie Tristan Vautier was twenty-third, Ed Carpenter was twenty-fourth with Dario Franchitti being the slowest on the timesheet. Franchitti brushed the wall just prior to the red flag brought out by his teammate Dixon.
Firestone Fast Six qualifying for race one will be at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Track Walk: Belle Isle 2013
Tony Kanaan is coming off winning the Indianapolis 500 and leads the Izod IndyCar Series to Belle Isle for the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans. Marco Andretti leads the point standings after finishing in fourth at Indianapolis.
The First Doubleheader
This is the first of three doubleheaders this season for IndyCar. Two, 70-lap races will takes both starting at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday. Friday will feature a practice session late in the morning with the Firestone Fast Six qualifying session happening at 3:00 p.m. ET on Friday setting the grid for the Saturday race. On Saturday morning, at 9:15 a.m. ET qualifying for race two with take place. This session will see two, twelve minute qualifying groups. Groups will be determined by combined times from practice with odd-numbered positions making up group one and even-numbered positions making up group two. The grid for race two will be set in order of fastest times, combined from the two groups.
Race one will take place Saturday. Sunday will feature a morning warm-up at 9:00 a.m. ET before race two. This year's race will take place on a recently repaved, 2.346 mile configuration instead of the 2.07 mile configuration used since the IndyCar Series returned to Belle Isle in 2007.
Driver Changes
Mike Conway returns for his second and third IndyCar races of the season at Belle Isle. Conway will join Dale Coyne Racing, replacing Ana Beatriz who finished 15th at Indianapolis. Conway raced Long Beach for Rahal-Letteman-Lanigan Racing where Conway started 5th and finished 25th. Last year, Conway finished 9th at Belle Isle driving for AJ Foyt. Conway teams with Justin Wilson for the second time in their careers. Wilson and Conway teamed for six races in 2010 at Dreyer and Reinbold Racing before Conway suffered a season-ending back injury at Indianapolis. Conway has only been announced for this weekend, although it would not be unlikely Conway could run the remaining road and street course races. Conway does have a conflict with possibly doing the Baltimore Grand Prix. Conway drives an LMP2 car for G-Drive Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship which is scheduled to race in São Paulo the same day as Baltimore. Ana Beatriz is still trying to put together a sponsorship package to get back in the car.
The other possible driver change is Oriol Serviá stepping into the #4 National Guard Chevrolet currently driven by JR Hildebrand. This was mentioned last night on Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee. Curt Cavin cited Hildebrand's accidents at St. Petersburg and Indianapolis as reasons for why Serivá may replace the 2009 Indy Lights champion. Serviá lost his ride at Dreyer and Reinbold Racing after the team closed up shop after Indianapolis. Serviá is currently 9th in points and Hildebrand is 19th in points. This possible change has yet to be confirmed.
Update: Ryan Briscoe has been announced as the driver of the #4 National Guard Chevrolet at Detroit after JR Hildebrand's contract was terminated with the team. Nothing has been announced beyond this weekend. In 37 races with Panther Racing Hildebrand had one podium, five top-fives, twelve top tens and an average finish of 14.4. Prior to Hildebrand, Dan Wheldon drove 34 races for Panther Racing where he collected four podiums, seven top-fives, nineteen top tens and had an average finish of 10.9.
Grid Penalties
Four Honda teams will be taking ten spot grid penalties for race one at Belle Isle due to engine changes made at Indianapolis. Dario Franchitti's and Charlie Kimball's team changed engines prior to Pole Day while Graham Rahal and Josef Newgarden made engine changes on Bump Day.
Sweep Bonus
Should a driver sweep the weekend at Belle Isle, there team will win an additional $50,000 bonus from SONAX. Should no one be able to win the SONAX Perfect Finish Award this weekend, the $50,000 will roll over to Toronto where the prize for sweeping will be $100,000 and should no one sweep Toronto, the $100,000 will roll over to Houston where a driver has a shot to win $150,000. SONAX is the leading manufacture premium car care products worldwide.
Track Facts
The pole sitter has won at Belle Isle on three occasions, tied with fourth as the starting position to produce the most winners. Second and third has each had produced two winners. The farthest a winner has started from is tenth when Danny Sullivan won. It was Sullivan's final win of his American open-wheel racing career. The last American to win at Belle Isle was Michael Andretti in 1996 and the last Canadian to win at Belle Isle was Greg Moore in 1997. Helio Castroneves has the most wins at Belle Isle among active drivers with two.
Coverage
ABC will be covering both races at Belle Isle. Coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. ET both Saturday and Sunday with the green flag scheduled for 3:50 p.m. both days.
Prediction
Last year Honda dominated Belle Isle, sweeping the podium while Scott Dixon led every lap from pole position. Takuma Sato and Justin Wilson give Honda the best shot at success. The Ganassi cars will be near the front but will not dominate either of these two races. Despite a terrible season opener, Simon Pagenaud has finished in the top ten in each of four races since St. Pete, only Marco Andretti shares that distinction. The Chevrolets will still be strong. The Andretti Autosport cars have been spot on at each event this season and has a combined three wins, one pole, seven podiums, eight top fives and twelve top tens. I think all three Penskes will be quick with Will Power being a threat to sweep the weekend. I am going to pick Simon Pagenaud and Ryan Hunter-Reay this weekend. Sleeper: Mike Conway.
The First Doubleheader
This is the first of three doubleheaders this season for IndyCar. Two, 70-lap races will takes both starting at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday. Friday will feature a practice session late in the morning with the Firestone Fast Six qualifying session happening at 3:00 p.m. ET on Friday setting the grid for the Saturday race. On Saturday morning, at 9:15 a.m. ET qualifying for race two with take place. This session will see two, twelve minute qualifying groups. Groups will be determined by combined times from practice with odd-numbered positions making up group one and even-numbered positions making up group two. The grid for race two will be set in order of fastest times, combined from the two groups.
Race one will take place Saturday. Sunday will feature a morning warm-up at 9:00 a.m. ET before race two. This year's race will take place on a recently repaved, 2.346 mile configuration instead of the 2.07 mile configuration used since the IndyCar Series returned to Belle Isle in 2007.
Driver Changes
Mike Conway returns for his second and third IndyCar races of the season at Belle Isle. Conway will join Dale Coyne Racing, replacing Ana Beatriz who finished 15th at Indianapolis. Conway raced Long Beach for Rahal-Letteman-Lanigan Racing where Conway started 5th and finished 25th. Last year, Conway finished 9th at Belle Isle driving for AJ Foyt. Conway teams with Justin Wilson for the second time in their careers. Wilson and Conway teamed for six races in 2010 at Dreyer and Reinbold Racing before Conway suffered a season-ending back injury at Indianapolis. Conway has only been announced for this weekend, although it would not be unlikely Conway could run the remaining road and street course races. Conway does have a conflict with possibly doing the Baltimore Grand Prix. Conway drives an LMP2 car for G-Drive Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship which is scheduled to race in São Paulo the same day as Baltimore. Ana Beatriz is still trying to put together a sponsorship package to get back in the car.
The other possible driver change is Oriol Serviá stepping into the #4 National Guard Chevrolet currently driven by JR Hildebrand. This was mentioned last night on Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee. Curt Cavin cited Hildebrand's accidents at St. Petersburg and Indianapolis as reasons for why Serivá may replace the 2009 Indy Lights champion. Serviá lost his ride at Dreyer and Reinbold Racing after the team closed up shop after Indianapolis. Serviá is currently 9th in points and Hildebrand is 19th in points. This possible change has yet to be confirmed.
Update: Ryan Briscoe has been announced as the driver of the #4 National Guard Chevrolet at Detroit after JR Hildebrand's contract was terminated with the team. Nothing has been announced beyond this weekend. In 37 races with Panther Racing Hildebrand had one podium, five top-fives, twelve top tens and an average finish of 14.4. Prior to Hildebrand, Dan Wheldon drove 34 races for Panther Racing where he collected four podiums, seven top-fives, nineteen top tens and had an average finish of 10.9.
Grid Penalties
Four Honda teams will be taking ten spot grid penalties for race one at Belle Isle due to engine changes made at Indianapolis. Dario Franchitti's and Charlie Kimball's team changed engines prior to Pole Day while Graham Rahal and Josef Newgarden made engine changes on Bump Day.
Sweep Bonus
Should a driver sweep the weekend at Belle Isle, there team will win an additional $50,000 bonus from SONAX. Should no one be able to win the SONAX Perfect Finish Award this weekend, the $50,000 will roll over to Toronto where the prize for sweeping will be $100,000 and should no one sweep Toronto, the $100,000 will roll over to Houston where a driver has a shot to win $150,000. SONAX is the leading manufacture premium car care products worldwide.
Track Facts
The pole sitter has won at Belle Isle on three occasions, tied with fourth as the starting position to produce the most winners. Second and third has each had produced two winners. The farthest a winner has started from is tenth when Danny Sullivan won. It was Sullivan's final win of his American open-wheel racing career. The last American to win at Belle Isle was Michael Andretti in 1996 and the last Canadian to win at Belle Isle was Greg Moore in 1997. Helio Castroneves has the most wins at Belle Isle among active drivers with two.
Coverage
ABC will be covering both races at Belle Isle. Coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. ET both Saturday and Sunday with the green flag scheduled for 3:50 p.m. both days.
Prediction
Last year Honda dominated Belle Isle, sweeping the podium while Scott Dixon led every lap from pole position. Takuma Sato and Justin Wilson give Honda the best shot at success. The Ganassi cars will be near the front but will not dominate either of these two races. Despite a terrible season opener, Simon Pagenaud has finished in the top ten in each of four races since St. Pete, only Marco Andretti shares that distinction. The Chevrolets will still be strong. The Andretti Autosport cars have been spot on at each event this season and has a combined three wins, one pole, seven podiums, eight top fives and twelve top tens. I think all three Penskes will be quick with Will Power being a threat to sweep the weekend. I am going to pick Simon Pagenaud and Ryan Hunter-Reay this weekend. Sleeper: Mike Conway.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
The Ridiculously Radical Way to Simultaneously Help IndyCar and Formula One That Will Never Happen
Before I type this, I know it will likely never happen but it makes some sense if you really think about.
IndyCar is struggling. There I said it. Struggling to find sponsors, struggling with TV ratings, struggling to be relevant. IndyCar needs help. And you know what, there is nothing wrong to admit you need help. I'd rather by honest than lie and say everything is alright.
Formula One is doing fine. They have a nineteen-race World Championship. Millions and millions of dollars fill the paddock like it's nobody's business. Everything is peachy. But, there is one thing Formula One struggles with. Formula One wants a larger presence in the United States.
How can IndyCar and Formula One help each other out simultaneously?
First, I have to say it is radical. Two, it is NOT unprecedented. Three, it is unlikely for many reasons.
The idea: Make the Indianapolis 500, once again, a round of the Formula One World Championship.
There are many things preventing this from happening. Technology, conflict in schedules and conflict of interests from the two sanctioning bodies.
But could it work?
Mark Miles and Derrick Walker already made it known they want innovation and the speeds to increase at the Speedway. What better way to bring different technologies and promote innovation than to allow the Formula One teams to show up and run a car? Instead of forcing the Formula One teams to buy DW12 chassis and try to get an engine program from Chevrolet and Honda, when the Formula One regulations go to 1.6 liter, turbocharged V6 engines, allow the Formula One teams to come with their engines and their chassis, of course with different suspension and aero pieces for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and race.
There are more technical challenges preventing this from ever happening. IndyCar uses Firestone; Formula One uses Pirelli who don't make an oval tire. There is no refueling in Formula One; IndyCar does use refueling. IndyCar only allows six men over the wall for a pit stop; Formula One has at least double that. IndyCar uses a pneumatic jack; Formula One uses a hand jack. There are some things that would have to be worked out. The other issue is Formula One has expressed no interest in an oval race. That is the biggest barrier to be break down.
Formula One wants a larger presence in the United States and while the Grand Prix of America in Weekhawken and West New York, New Jersey has yet to take place and rumors were swirling at Long Beach that Bernie Ecclestone, Chris Pook and Zak Brown were going to bring Formula One back to Southern California, why not return to something that was done from 1950-1960 and have the Indianapolis 500 count towards the World Championship? While struggling, the Indianapolis 500 is still a recognizable event in the United States. At least 225,000 people attended the race this year and more might show up if they hear Formula One cars and drivers will also be there. It would increase the international profile of the race to have the names of Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton, Button and Räikkönen as well as the manufactures of Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull and Lotus (but this Lotus is much better than the last Lotus that showed up at the Speedway).
It makes so much sense to me. Formula One gets to be apart of one of the biggest races in the United States while IndyCar can benefit from being viewed on the world stage by Formula One television partners. Make the Indianapolis 500 a Formula One round and IndyCar, which is near impossible to find around the world, is now on the BBC, RTL and the other big networks in Europe not to mention other big networks around the world. With it being a Formula One race, there would be a conflict in TV rights for the United States and Canada. Would it be viewed as only an IndyCar race and be on only ABC and Sportsnet or would the Formula One deals make it available on NBC and TSN as well? These are kinks that would have to be worked out. Despite these kinks, the amount of international media walking the grounds would be an unbelievable plus for the series and the race. Seeing how excited Will Buxton was covering qualifying makes me wonder what he'd be like on race day and how would other members of the Formula One media react?
Formula One teams would need testing time for their oval parts to be either conducted in the United States or somewhere in Europe (Lausitzring and Rockingham come to mind). An IndyCar oval race in February or early March open to the Formula One teams could be beneficial or IndyCar oval races during Formula One's down periods in the summer could allow the teams to prepare a year in advance. Jim Clark won at Milwaukee and ran Trenton after finishing second in the 1963 Indianapolis 500. It has been done but just because Jim Clark did it doesn't mean the teams and drivers of today would.
Changes would have to be made to the calendar to allow this to happen. The current qualifying weekend would not be a problem for the Formula One teams but they would miss the first two days of practice like Conor Daly did this year. Push Monaco back a week to the first week in June to open up the weekend for the Indianapolis 500 and have a back-to-back of Indianapolis and Monaco. It is not unprecedented for Monaco to move. The Monaco Grand Prix has moved from a race in early April to early May to it's current date in late May. I don't think one week would kill the event. Just three years ago the race was held two weeks earlier than it was this year and I think it was still well attended.
Other logistical problems: Team failing to qualify. In Formula One this rarely happens and if it does, it happens to a back marker not within 107% of the fastest car. A Formula One team might not be happy if neither of its two cars makes the show. Part of me wants to say that's just how it goes but I know if a team misses they might decide not to show up for Indianapolis, the same way Formula One teams didn't show up from 1950-1960 expect for one lone exception when Alberto Ascari and Ferrari ran the 1952 Indianapolis 500. For IndyCar teams, failing to qualify and losing a spot to a Formula One team would cost them a valuable paycheck and IndyCar teams need every dime they can get. Just add this to the list of things keeping this from ever happening.
Does this mother of all pipe dreams have a shot at reality? As of now, no but IndyCar has nothing to lose by trying to communicate with the FIA and the Formula One Teams Association.
It does make some sense. Formula One would be on the biggest stage in the United States. IndyCar would be shown to larger international audience. The rulebook could be opened up to allow teams from both Formula One and IndyCar to use innovation to try and go faster than the next guy. It would be a terrific event for any racing fan. Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 would be unbelievably important. Add twenty-two Formula One cars to thirty-three IndyCars and you have fifty-five cars going for thirty-three spots. Want to talk about a hell of a bump day?
However, before I get too excited, I have to realize it's not in the cards and it will likely never happen. I wish it would though. With racing being so specialized in this day in age, just one event where all the teams from two series got together and ran a race would be a wonderful, deep breath of fresh mountain air. The idea has its flaws but there is nothing that can't be worked out, right? Through dialogue the sanctioning bodies could work out the kinks and it could be a win-win for the FIA and IndyCar but before I get too excited again, I realize it's a pipe dream.
Just the thought of it though; Formula One teams and IndyCar teams at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to race the Indianapolis 500. Before getting negative, let that thought roll around your mind and try not to smile.
IndyCar is struggling. There I said it. Struggling to find sponsors, struggling with TV ratings, struggling to be relevant. IndyCar needs help. And you know what, there is nothing wrong to admit you need help. I'd rather by honest than lie and say everything is alright.
Formula One is doing fine. They have a nineteen-race World Championship. Millions and millions of dollars fill the paddock like it's nobody's business. Everything is peachy. But, there is one thing Formula One struggles with. Formula One wants a larger presence in the United States.
How can IndyCar and Formula One help each other out simultaneously?
First, I have to say it is radical. Two, it is NOT unprecedented. Three, it is unlikely for many reasons.
The idea: Make the Indianapolis 500, once again, a round of the Formula One World Championship.
There are many things preventing this from happening. Technology, conflict in schedules and conflict of interests from the two sanctioning bodies.
But could it work?
Mark Miles and Derrick Walker already made it known they want innovation and the speeds to increase at the Speedway. What better way to bring different technologies and promote innovation than to allow the Formula One teams to show up and run a car? Instead of forcing the Formula One teams to buy DW12 chassis and try to get an engine program from Chevrolet and Honda, when the Formula One regulations go to 1.6 liter, turbocharged V6 engines, allow the Formula One teams to come with their engines and their chassis, of course with different suspension and aero pieces for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and race.
There are more technical challenges preventing this from ever happening. IndyCar uses Firestone; Formula One uses Pirelli who don't make an oval tire. There is no refueling in Formula One; IndyCar does use refueling. IndyCar only allows six men over the wall for a pit stop; Formula One has at least double that. IndyCar uses a pneumatic jack; Formula One uses a hand jack. There are some things that would have to be worked out. The other issue is Formula One has expressed no interest in an oval race. That is the biggest barrier to be break down.
Formula One wants a larger presence in the United States and while the Grand Prix of America in Weekhawken and West New York, New Jersey has yet to take place and rumors were swirling at Long Beach that Bernie Ecclestone, Chris Pook and Zak Brown were going to bring Formula One back to Southern California, why not return to something that was done from 1950-1960 and have the Indianapolis 500 count towards the World Championship? While struggling, the Indianapolis 500 is still a recognizable event in the United States. At least 225,000 people attended the race this year and more might show up if they hear Formula One cars and drivers will also be there. It would increase the international profile of the race to have the names of Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton, Button and Räikkönen as well as the manufactures of Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull and Lotus (but this Lotus is much better than the last Lotus that showed up at the Speedway).
It makes so much sense to me. Formula One gets to be apart of one of the biggest races in the United States while IndyCar can benefit from being viewed on the world stage by Formula One television partners. Make the Indianapolis 500 a Formula One round and IndyCar, which is near impossible to find around the world, is now on the BBC, RTL and the other big networks in Europe not to mention other big networks around the world. With it being a Formula One race, there would be a conflict in TV rights for the United States and Canada. Would it be viewed as only an IndyCar race and be on only ABC and Sportsnet or would the Formula One deals make it available on NBC and TSN as well? These are kinks that would have to be worked out. Despite these kinks, the amount of international media walking the grounds would be an unbelievable plus for the series and the race. Seeing how excited Will Buxton was covering qualifying makes me wonder what he'd be like on race day and how would other members of the Formula One media react?
Formula One teams would need testing time for their oval parts to be either conducted in the United States or somewhere in Europe (Lausitzring and Rockingham come to mind). An IndyCar oval race in February or early March open to the Formula One teams could be beneficial or IndyCar oval races during Formula One's down periods in the summer could allow the teams to prepare a year in advance. Jim Clark won at Milwaukee and ran Trenton after finishing second in the 1963 Indianapolis 500. It has been done but just because Jim Clark did it doesn't mean the teams and drivers of today would.
Changes would have to be made to the calendar to allow this to happen. The current qualifying weekend would not be a problem for the Formula One teams but they would miss the first two days of practice like Conor Daly did this year. Push Monaco back a week to the first week in June to open up the weekend for the Indianapolis 500 and have a back-to-back of Indianapolis and Monaco. It is not unprecedented for Monaco to move. The Monaco Grand Prix has moved from a race in early April to early May to it's current date in late May. I don't think one week would kill the event. Just three years ago the race was held two weeks earlier than it was this year and I think it was still well attended.
Other logistical problems: Team failing to qualify. In Formula One this rarely happens and if it does, it happens to a back marker not within 107% of the fastest car. A Formula One team might not be happy if neither of its two cars makes the show. Part of me wants to say that's just how it goes but I know if a team misses they might decide not to show up for Indianapolis, the same way Formula One teams didn't show up from 1950-1960 expect for one lone exception when Alberto Ascari and Ferrari ran the 1952 Indianapolis 500. For IndyCar teams, failing to qualify and losing a spot to a Formula One team would cost them a valuable paycheck and IndyCar teams need every dime they can get. Just add this to the list of things keeping this from ever happening.
Does this mother of all pipe dreams have a shot at reality? As of now, no but IndyCar has nothing to lose by trying to communicate with the FIA and the Formula One Teams Association.
It does make some sense. Formula One would be on the biggest stage in the United States. IndyCar would be shown to larger international audience. The rulebook could be opened up to allow teams from both Formula One and IndyCar to use innovation to try and go faster than the next guy. It would be a terrific event for any racing fan. Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 would be unbelievably important. Add twenty-two Formula One cars to thirty-three IndyCars and you have fifty-five cars going for thirty-three spots. Want to talk about a hell of a bump day?
However, before I get too excited, I have to realize it's not in the cards and it will likely never happen. I wish it would though. With racing being so specialized in this day in age, just one event where all the teams from two series got together and ran a race would be a wonderful, deep breath of fresh mountain air. The idea has its flaws but there is nothing that can't be worked out, right? Through dialogue the sanctioning bodies could work out the kinks and it could be a win-win for the FIA and IndyCar but before I get too excited again, I realize it's a pipe dream.
Just the thought of it though; Formula One teams and IndyCar teams at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to race the Indianapolis 500. Before getting negative, let that thought roll around your mind and try not to smile.
Monday, May 27, 2013
The Conundrum: What Is a Great Race and How to End It?
The two races that took place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend saw two different ends of the spectrum.
The Indy Lights race featured 11 cars running the 40 lap race. Carlos Muñoz led most of the race with Sage Karam on his gearbox each lap he led until the back straightaway of the final lap where both Karam and Gabby Chaves made a move for the lead heading into turn three and they ran three wide through turn three, the short chute and turn four and down the front straightaway. And then Ireland's Peter Dempsey made a move on the outside around the top three and came from fourth exiting turn four to nip Chaves at the line for the win with Karam in third and Muñoz going from first to fourth in one lap.
Flash forward to Sunday. The Indianapolis 500 saw a record amount of lead changes, 68, double the record just set last year, a record for different amount of leaders (14) and was the fastest Indianapolis 500 ever with an average speed of 187.433 MPH. There was passing all day. Ed Carpenter led the most laps, a record low 37. There were only five cautions for twenty-one laps and at one point, the race saw a green flag run of 134 laps. However, after taking the green flag with three laps to go and seeing Tony Kanaan and Carlos Muñoz pass Ryan Hunter-Reay for the lead and second place respectively, the caution came out for an accident involving Dario Franchitti. The race ended under caution.
And here we are.
Honestly, Friday was not a spectacular race. Muñoz, Karam, Chaves and Dempsey ran 1-2-3-4 for most of the race with the only passing coming in the final half lap of the race. Jimmy Simpson, Chase Austin and Juan Pablo Garcia raced for seventh, eighth and ninth but those three were all close to twenty seconds back of the leader. However, the final half lap changed everything. A four-wide finish, where a blanket covered the top four seem to negate the facts the race was mostly processional.
Sunday was a spectacular race. There was plenty of passing, especially for the lead. There were green flag pit stops and the pit crews shined. You had AJ Allmendinger off the strategy of the leaders after having to stop a hand full of laps early for a loose seat belt but he was still a factor and it added a wrinkle to the race. You had veterans looking to get their first Indianapolis 500, rookies looking to win on debut, three-time winners looking to become four-time winners and not to forget mentioning the impending rain held off. However, the finish has many forgetting the exciting racing over the first 197 laps. It is the finish they are upset about.
Does anyone root for a race to end under yellow flag conditions? No. It happens though. The Indianapolis 500 ran to it's scheduled distance and the final lap happened to be under a yellow flag. Was it an exciting finish? No. Does it change the excitement of the previous 197? No. Well, at least it shouldn't. A race is more than the final two laps (unless it's a two lap race). Sunday the race was 500 miles. Not 5.
If a football game is in the final seconds and it's a 6-point game and the team ahead kneels on three consecutive plays because the team trailing does not have a time out, does it change the excitement of the game? It shouldn't. Let's say the team down 6 points have the ball and they are driving down field in the closing seconds of the game with no timeouts. They throw a pass down field and it is caught and the receiver is stopped inbounds 5 yards from the end zone with five seconds to go but the team does not have any timeouts to stop the clock and the linemen and quarterback are fifty yards down field. The clock runs out before another play is run and the game ends. Should the trailing team get one final shot to score a touchdown and win the game even though time is up? No. The clock ran out. The game is over.
I have never heard a football fan arguing the situation above being unfair. A football fan would say the trailing team used poor clock management and it cost them. Why in racing does very few people look at it as a poor decision not to go for it when a driver has a chance to do so and are bitten by a yellow flag? Why is there an urge to just wait until the final lap? If anything, it is a life lesson for everyone not to put everything off to the final second and to seize the opportunity in front of you. Whether it be going for a pass for the win in the Indianapolis 500, homework in high school, mowing the lawn or doing your taxes, DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT! GET THEM DONE WHEN YOU CAN!
When it comes to the argument of green-white-checkered finishes, the philosophy of why they are used has to be explored. Why are they used? To give the fans a green flag finish. Who do they benefit? The fans. What are the consequences? A race going longer than it's scheduled distance and not recognizing the leader of the race when that distance is reached as the winner. Now, before you react, are any of those statements false? If the race is scheduled for 500 miles and the race is extended five miles by a green-white-checkered, is the leader at the 500 mile mark recognized as the winner? No.
Some believe green-white-checkered finishes are racing's version of overtime. But overtime is used when there is a tie. In racing, green-white-checkered finishes are used to try and create a desirable finish. Name me one other sport that extends a match on purpose in hopes of a exciting finish? Even with green-white-checkered finishes, a race can still end under caution (see this year's Auto Club 400 or last year's fall race at Talladega). Now let me ask you this: Say in basketball, when the 4th quarter ends, Team A leads Team B by 22 points. Should there by a rule saying the trailing team gets one attempt at a half court shot worth one point more than the deficit for the win? Think about that before you react. Think about if that rule actually existed. Radical isn't it? It gives the fans a reason to tune it at the end. The course of a 48-minute basketball game would all come down to the fate of one shot. The rebounds fought for, the shots blocked, the shots made over 48 minutes could be deemed meaningless if that half court shot is made by the trailing team.
That does not exist but how is that any different from green-white-checkered? The game is being extended in hopes of an exciting finish. Imagine if a team were to make that half court shot, and imagine it's for the championship. The place would go nuts. One man, one half court shot, for the title. Talk about pressure. But that is not what is done. When 48 minutes are up, whoever is leading is the winner. If it is tied (TIED being the keyword) after 48 minutes, overtime is used to break the tie. The green-white-checkered finish is not used to break ties. It is used to create a finish, hopefully a green flag finish. But, just like a race not using the green-white-checkered rule, a race could still end under yellow conditions. What does that solve? "Well at least they gave it a shot?" is what some of you are thinking. Doesn't each race get it's shot when it reaches it's scheduled distance? Why do you have to extend a race to "give it a shot" at a green flag finish? It had it's shot when the scheduled distance is reached and it either finishes under green or yellow flag conditions. Basketball games aren't extended to have a shot at a buzzer beater. Football games aren't extended to have a shot at a Hail Mary. Baseball games aren't extended to have a shot at a walk-off home run. When each game reaches their scheduled distance the team ahead wins and the game ends. If the game is still tied, overtime maybe used but only if there is a tie and that is the only way a game is extended.
Why can't racing fans understand that? Why do racing fans feel entitled to see a green flag finish? Why don't football fans feel entitled to see the final play of every game determine the winner and loser? As a racing fan, and that is all I am, racing fans need to take a step back and not be as enthralled in the final laps and enjoy every lap of the race. There is more to a race than the finish.
My final question to you: When the 500th mile rolls around in a 500 mile race, who is the winner? It should be a simple answer.
The Indy Lights race featured 11 cars running the 40 lap race. Carlos Muñoz led most of the race with Sage Karam on his gearbox each lap he led until the back straightaway of the final lap where both Karam and Gabby Chaves made a move for the lead heading into turn three and they ran three wide through turn three, the short chute and turn four and down the front straightaway. And then Ireland's Peter Dempsey made a move on the outside around the top three and came from fourth exiting turn four to nip Chaves at the line for the win with Karam in third and Muñoz going from first to fourth in one lap.
Flash forward to Sunday. The Indianapolis 500 saw a record amount of lead changes, 68, double the record just set last year, a record for different amount of leaders (14) and was the fastest Indianapolis 500 ever with an average speed of 187.433 MPH. There was passing all day. Ed Carpenter led the most laps, a record low 37. There were only five cautions for twenty-one laps and at one point, the race saw a green flag run of 134 laps. However, after taking the green flag with three laps to go and seeing Tony Kanaan and Carlos Muñoz pass Ryan Hunter-Reay for the lead and second place respectively, the caution came out for an accident involving Dario Franchitti. The race ended under caution.
And here we are.
Honestly, Friday was not a spectacular race. Muñoz, Karam, Chaves and Dempsey ran 1-2-3-4 for most of the race with the only passing coming in the final half lap of the race. Jimmy Simpson, Chase Austin and Juan Pablo Garcia raced for seventh, eighth and ninth but those three were all close to twenty seconds back of the leader. However, the final half lap changed everything. A four-wide finish, where a blanket covered the top four seem to negate the facts the race was mostly processional.
Sunday was a spectacular race. There was plenty of passing, especially for the lead. There were green flag pit stops and the pit crews shined. You had AJ Allmendinger off the strategy of the leaders after having to stop a hand full of laps early for a loose seat belt but he was still a factor and it added a wrinkle to the race. You had veterans looking to get their first Indianapolis 500, rookies looking to win on debut, three-time winners looking to become four-time winners and not to forget mentioning the impending rain held off. However, the finish has many forgetting the exciting racing over the first 197 laps. It is the finish they are upset about.
Does anyone root for a race to end under yellow flag conditions? No. It happens though. The Indianapolis 500 ran to it's scheduled distance and the final lap happened to be under a yellow flag. Was it an exciting finish? No. Does it change the excitement of the previous 197? No. Well, at least it shouldn't. A race is more than the final two laps (unless it's a two lap race). Sunday the race was 500 miles. Not 5.
If a football game is in the final seconds and it's a 6-point game and the team ahead kneels on three consecutive plays because the team trailing does not have a time out, does it change the excitement of the game? It shouldn't. Let's say the team down 6 points have the ball and they are driving down field in the closing seconds of the game with no timeouts. They throw a pass down field and it is caught and the receiver is stopped inbounds 5 yards from the end zone with five seconds to go but the team does not have any timeouts to stop the clock and the linemen and quarterback are fifty yards down field. The clock runs out before another play is run and the game ends. Should the trailing team get one final shot to score a touchdown and win the game even though time is up? No. The clock ran out. The game is over.
I have never heard a football fan arguing the situation above being unfair. A football fan would say the trailing team used poor clock management and it cost them. Why in racing does very few people look at it as a poor decision not to go for it when a driver has a chance to do so and are bitten by a yellow flag? Why is there an urge to just wait until the final lap? If anything, it is a life lesson for everyone not to put everything off to the final second and to seize the opportunity in front of you. Whether it be going for a pass for the win in the Indianapolis 500, homework in high school, mowing the lawn or doing your taxes, DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT! GET THEM DONE WHEN YOU CAN!
When it comes to the argument of green-white-checkered finishes, the philosophy of why they are used has to be explored. Why are they used? To give the fans a green flag finish. Who do they benefit? The fans. What are the consequences? A race going longer than it's scheduled distance and not recognizing the leader of the race when that distance is reached as the winner. Now, before you react, are any of those statements false? If the race is scheduled for 500 miles and the race is extended five miles by a green-white-checkered, is the leader at the 500 mile mark recognized as the winner? No.
Some believe green-white-checkered finishes are racing's version of overtime. But overtime is used when there is a tie. In racing, green-white-checkered finishes are used to try and create a desirable finish. Name me one other sport that extends a match on purpose in hopes of a exciting finish? Even with green-white-checkered finishes, a race can still end under caution (see this year's Auto Club 400 or last year's fall race at Talladega). Now let me ask you this: Say in basketball, when the 4th quarter ends, Team A leads Team B by 22 points. Should there by a rule saying the trailing team gets one attempt at a half court shot worth one point more than the deficit for the win? Think about that before you react. Think about if that rule actually existed. Radical isn't it? It gives the fans a reason to tune it at the end. The course of a 48-minute basketball game would all come down to the fate of one shot. The rebounds fought for, the shots blocked, the shots made over 48 minutes could be deemed meaningless if that half court shot is made by the trailing team.
That does not exist but how is that any different from green-white-checkered? The game is being extended in hopes of an exciting finish. Imagine if a team were to make that half court shot, and imagine it's for the championship. The place would go nuts. One man, one half court shot, for the title. Talk about pressure. But that is not what is done. When 48 minutes are up, whoever is leading is the winner. If it is tied (TIED being the keyword) after 48 minutes, overtime is used to break the tie. The green-white-checkered finish is not used to break ties. It is used to create a finish, hopefully a green flag finish. But, just like a race not using the green-white-checkered rule, a race could still end under yellow conditions. What does that solve? "Well at least they gave it a shot?" is what some of you are thinking. Doesn't each race get it's shot when it reaches it's scheduled distance? Why do you have to extend a race to "give it a shot" at a green flag finish? It had it's shot when the scheduled distance is reached and it either finishes under green or yellow flag conditions. Basketball games aren't extended to have a shot at a buzzer beater. Football games aren't extended to have a shot at a Hail Mary. Baseball games aren't extended to have a shot at a walk-off home run. When each game reaches their scheduled distance the team ahead wins and the game ends. If the game is still tied, overtime maybe used but only if there is a tie and that is the only way a game is extended.
Why can't racing fans understand that? Why do racing fans feel entitled to see a green flag finish? Why don't football fans feel entitled to see the final play of every game determine the winner and loser? As a racing fan, and that is all I am, racing fans need to take a step back and not be as enthralled in the final laps and enjoy every lap of the race. There is more to a race than the finish.
My final question to you: When the 500th mile rolls around in a 500 mile race, who is the winner? It should be a simple answer.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
97th Indianapolis 500: First Impressions
1. Tony Kanaan has won the Indianapolis 500. He deserves it. I can't think of a person who is disappointed to see Kanaan finally get this win.
2. Record breaking day. Most lead changes in the Indianapolis 500, most different leaders in the Indianapolis 500, fastest Indianapolis 500 in history.
3. It is great seeing how happy everyone is for Kanaan. And it was great to see Alex Zanardi there to celebrate.
4. Rough break for Ryan Hunter-Reay. But third is still good.
5. I think Carlos Muñoz has a future in IndyCar.
6. If somebody had a problem with today's race then I don't know what we can do to make the racing better for them.
7. Great day for Marco Andretti and Justin Wilson.
8. I will repeat. Great day for Justin Wilson. THE BEST FINISHING HONDA IN FIFTH!
9. Helio Castroneves may have been the best finishing Penske, but AJ Allmendinger had the best race of any of the Penske drivers. And to think, Tony Stewart was offered the seat given to Allmendinger.
10. Great day for Simon Pagenaud and Charlie Kimball. 8th and 9th respectively.
11. Ed Carpenter got a nice top ten. I bet he wishes he did better.
12. Tough break for Dario Franchitti.
13. I am not sure eleventh will save the day for Oriol Serviá and Dreyer and Reinbold Racing but damn did they give it their all.
14. A good day for Ryan Briscoe in twelfth.
15. Ana Beatriz finished fifteenth in an under-powered Dale Coyne car. Anyone think she is a back marker now?
16. Good day for Tristan Vautier who finished 16th.
17. As of lap 120, EJ Viso has had a great day. And then he stalled in the pit lane.
18. Townsend Bell deserved better.
19. By the way, there is a doubleheader at Belle Isle starting in six days.
20. Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan needs a veteran. Oriol Serviá would be a great hire.
21. Those who need a break after today: Graham Rahal, Josef Newgarden, Franchitti, Sébastien Bourdais, JR Hildebrand, Honda.
22. People who I hope we get to see more of after today: Conor Daly (on a road or street course), Buddy Lazier (either behind the wheel or with someone else driving his car), Katherine Legge, Ryan Briscoe.
23. It was great to see a clean race, most pit stops coming under green flag conditions and wonderful racing and passing on a 2.5 mile oval that was not fabricated.
24. My blood pressure is finally reaching a healthy level.
25. Lindsay Czarniak did a great job. She should keep the host job for next year and maybe should be added to host all IndyCar races on ABC (although that seems unlikely).
26. ABC did a very good job. I sense a renewed interest from them in the Indianapolis 500. Now if only we can renew interest for all IndyCar races, the series would be sitting pretty.
27. A few empty seats at the Speedway today. Here is an idea with the Speedway's decision to raise ticket prices: Once the Speedway "breaks even," next objective should be to fill the place and ticket should see a reduction in price. Or allow fans with general admission tickets to fill in available grandstand seats if they choose to do so. I am sure there are logistical problems to both of my ideas but they should at least be explored.
28. We need less talk about saving fuel from the commentators and less talk of how it hurts to be leading (it happened early in the broadcast and wasn't really mentioned again after the first round of pit stops but it was still irritating). Does the Speedway still do the bonus for each lap led? If they don't, find a sponsor and let's bring it back.
29. I love the in-car cameras on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app. Hopefully the actually race coverage for the remaining IndyCar races on ABC will be available.
30. With next year being the third year for these engines, maybe IndyCar should permanently turn up the boost. And I'm not talking only 10 kPa. Maybe look investigate how the engine does with an increase of 30-50 kPa.
31. Another year and another request to bring the apron back please.
32. For all the talk of financial issues with teams and complaints about the low attendance numbers for practice days and how qualifying doesn't sell out anymore, it was a great month of May and though I am sad it is over, let's do the best we can to stay this excited for IndyCar through June, July, August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March and April.
33. 364 days until the 98th Indianapolis 500.
2. Record breaking day. Most lead changes in the Indianapolis 500, most different leaders in the Indianapolis 500, fastest Indianapolis 500 in history.
3. It is great seeing how happy everyone is for Kanaan. And it was great to see Alex Zanardi there to celebrate.
4. Rough break for Ryan Hunter-Reay. But third is still good.
5. I think Carlos Muñoz has a future in IndyCar.
6. If somebody had a problem with today's race then I don't know what we can do to make the racing better for them.
7. Great day for Marco Andretti and Justin Wilson.
8. I will repeat. Great day for Justin Wilson. THE BEST FINISHING HONDA IN FIFTH!
9. Helio Castroneves may have been the best finishing Penske, but AJ Allmendinger had the best race of any of the Penske drivers. And to think, Tony Stewart was offered the seat given to Allmendinger.
10. Great day for Simon Pagenaud and Charlie Kimball. 8th and 9th respectively.
11. Ed Carpenter got a nice top ten. I bet he wishes he did better.
12. Tough break for Dario Franchitti.
13. I am not sure eleventh will save the day for Oriol Serviá and Dreyer and Reinbold Racing but damn did they give it their all.
14. A good day for Ryan Briscoe in twelfth.
15. Ana Beatriz finished fifteenth in an under-powered Dale Coyne car. Anyone think she is a back marker now?
16. Good day for Tristan Vautier who finished 16th.
17. As of lap 120, EJ Viso has had a great day. And then he stalled in the pit lane.
18. Townsend Bell deserved better.
19. By the way, there is a doubleheader at Belle Isle starting in six days.
20. Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan needs a veteran. Oriol Serviá would be a great hire.
21. Those who need a break after today: Graham Rahal, Josef Newgarden, Franchitti, Sébastien Bourdais, JR Hildebrand, Honda.
22. People who I hope we get to see more of after today: Conor Daly (on a road or street course), Buddy Lazier (either behind the wheel or with someone else driving his car), Katherine Legge, Ryan Briscoe.
23. It was great to see a clean race, most pit stops coming under green flag conditions and wonderful racing and passing on a 2.5 mile oval that was not fabricated.
24. My blood pressure is finally reaching a healthy level.
25. Lindsay Czarniak did a great job. She should keep the host job for next year and maybe should be added to host all IndyCar races on ABC (although that seems unlikely).
26. ABC did a very good job. I sense a renewed interest from them in the Indianapolis 500. Now if only we can renew interest for all IndyCar races, the series would be sitting pretty.
27. A few empty seats at the Speedway today. Here is an idea with the Speedway's decision to raise ticket prices: Once the Speedway "breaks even," next objective should be to fill the place and ticket should see a reduction in price. Or allow fans with general admission tickets to fill in available grandstand seats if they choose to do so. I am sure there are logistical problems to both of my ideas but they should at least be explored.
28. We need less talk about saving fuel from the commentators and less talk of how it hurts to be leading (it happened early in the broadcast and wasn't really mentioned again after the first round of pit stops but it was still irritating). Does the Speedway still do the bonus for each lap led? If they don't, find a sponsor and let's bring it back.
29. I love the in-car cameras on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app. Hopefully the actually race coverage for the remaining IndyCar races on ABC will be available.
30. With next year being the third year for these engines, maybe IndyCar should permanently turn up the boost. And I'm not talking only 10 kPa. Maybe look investigate how the engine does with an increase of 30-50 kPa.
31. Another year and another request to bring the apron back please.
32. For all the talk of financial issues with teams and complaints about the low attendance numbers for practice days and how qualifying doesn't sell out anymore, it was a great month of May and though I am sad it is over, let's do the best we can to stay this excited for IndyCar through June, July, August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March and April.
33. 364 days until the 98th Indianapolis 500.
Morning Warm-Up: 97th Indianapolis 500
It's finally here. It is that day of the year where everything stands still and all eyes focus on 16th & Georgetown. The politics don't matter. The CEO doesn't matter. All that matters is 500 miles. It is the most important 500 miles of the year for 33 drivers. The winner is more than just another winner. They are forever to be remembered as one of the best to ever sit behind the wheel of a race car.
For two men, a chance to enter the penthouse suite awaits. Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti could join AJ Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as four-time winners of the Indianapolis 500 mile race. Scott Dixon and Buddy Lazier look to win their second Indianapolis 500. But twenty-nine drivers look to become the 68th different winner of the Indianapolis 500.
Ed Carpenter is on pole and looks to become the first Hoosier to win since Wilbur Shaw in 1940. Carpenter is the most recent winner of an IndyCar oval race, , 2012 season finale, a 500 miler at Fontana. The fastest rookie, Carlos Muñoz starts second, the same position fellow Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya started when he won the 2000 Indianapolis 500. Marco Andretti completes the first row as he looks to join his grandfather Mario as a Indianapolis 500 winner.
EJ Viso is a sleeper on the inside of row two with Penske Racing's AJ Allmendinger starting fifth in his first Indianapolis 500 start and Will Power starting sixth.
Defending IndyCar champions Ryan Hunter-Reay starts seventh with three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves starting eight and Canadian James Hinchcliffe starting on the outside of row three. Hinchcliffe won the most recent IndyCar race on the streets of São Paulo.
Inside of row four is 2011 Indianapolis 500 runner-up JR Hildebrand with 2011 Indianapolis 500 pole-sitter Alex Tagliani starting in the middle and fan favorite Tony Kanaan starting on the outside. This is Kanaan's twelfth start in the Indianapolis 500.
Oriol Serviá starts thirteenth in what could be a do-or-die day for him and Dreyer and Reinbold Racing as the team is facing financial difficulties for the remainder of the 2013 Izod IndyCar season. Justin Wilson starts fourteenth. The Brit has finished seventh two of the last three years. Sébastien Bourdais starts fifteenth. The four-time ChampCar champion started fifteenth in his rookie start in 2005, where the Frenchman was running in the top ten most of the day before having an accident end his day with two laps to go.
Three potential winners start on row six. 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon starts on the inside with defending Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti in the middle and the current Izod IndyCar Series points leader Takuma Sato on the outside driving for AJ Foyt.
Charlie Kimball is on the inside of row seven. Kimball missed the public driver's meeting and parade Saturday due to an illness. Let's see if Kimball will be able to make it through the race. James Jakes starts twentieth, the highest of the Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing entries. Simon Pagenaud starts on the outside of row seven. Pagenaud was the fastest on Carb Day.
Townsend Bell starts twenty-second in what looks to be his only IndyCar race of the 2013 season. Next to him is another driver possibly in his only IndyCar race of 2013, 2012 Indianapolis 500 pole-sitter Ryan Briscoe. Simona de Silvestro will roll off the grid from the twenty-fourth position.
Josef Newgarden starts twenty-fifth in his second Indianapolis 500 start. Graham Rahal will start next to Newgarden in twenty-sixth with Sebastián Saavedra starting twenty-seventh.
Row ten features rookie Tristan Vautier and the two Dale Coyne Racing entries of Ana Beatriz and Pippa Mann. This is Mann's first IndyCar race since being injured in the 15-car accident that led to the abandonment of the 2011 IndyCar season finale in Las Vegas.
And on the final row will be American rookie Conor Daly, son of former Indianapolis 500 starter Derek Daly, ahead of 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Lazier with Katherine Legge starting in the thirty-third and final position.
For what it is worth, more 32 year olds (10) have won the Indianapolis 500 than any other age. 32 year olds in this year's race: Ed Carpenter, Will Power, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Scott Dixon and Katherine Legge.
Chance of rain remains at 30% with a high of 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
For two men, a chance to enter the penthouse suite awaits. Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti could join AJ Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as four-time winners of the Indianapolis 500 mile race. Scott Dixon and Buddy Lazier look to win their second Indianapolis 500. But twenty-nine drivers look to become the 68th different winner of the Indianapolis 500.
Ed Carpenter is on pole and looks to become the first Hoosier to win since Wilbur Shaw in 1940. Carpenter is the most recent winner of an IndyCar oval race, , 2012 season finale, a 500 miler at Fontana. The fastest rookie, Carlos Muñoz starts second, the same position fellow Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya started when he won the 2000 Indianapolis 500. Marco Andretti completes the first row as he looks to join his grandfather Mario as a Indianapolis 500 winner.
EJ Viso is a sleeper on the inside of row two with Penske Racing's AJ Allmendinger starting fifth in his first Indianapolis 500 start and Will Power starting sixth.
Defending IndyCar champions Ryan Hunter-Reay starts seventh with three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves starting eight and Canadian James Hinchcliffe starting on the outside of row three. Hinchcliffe won the most recent IndyCar race on the streets of São Paulo.
Inside of row four is 2011 Indianapolis 500 runner-up JR Hildebrand with 2011 Indianapolis 500 pole-sitter Alex Tagliani starting in the middle and fan favorite Tony Kanaan starting on the outside. This is Kanaan's twelfth start in the Indianapolis 500.
Oriol Serviá starts thirteenth in what could be a do-or-die day for him and Dreyer and Reinbold Racing as the team is facing financial difficulties for the remainder of the 2013 Izod IndyCar season. Justin Wilson starts fourteenth. The Brit has finished seventh two of the last three years. Sébastien Bourdais starts fifteenth. The four-time ChampCar champion started fifteenth in his rookie start in 2005, where the Frenchman was running in the top ten most of the day before having an accident end his day with two laps to go.
Three potential winners start on row six. 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon starts on the inside with defending Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti in the middle and the current Izod IndyCar Series points leader Takuma Sato on the outside driving for AJ Foyt.
Charlie Kimball is on the inside of row seven. Kimball missed the public driver's meeting and parade Saturday due to an illness. Let's see if Kimball will be able to make it through the race. James Jakes starts twentieth, the highest of the Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing entries. Simon Pagenaud starts on the outside of row seven. Pagenaud was the fastest on Carb Day.
Townsend Bell starts twenty-second in what looks to be his only IndyCar race of the 2013 season. Next to him is another driver possibly in his only IndyCar race of 2013, 2012 Indianapolis 500 pole-sitter Ryan Briscoe. Simona de Silvestro will roll off the grid from the twenty-fourth position.
Josef Newgarden starts twenty-fifth in his second Indianapolis 500 start. Graham Rahal will start next to Newgarden in twenty-sixth with Sebastián Saavedra starting twenty-seventh.
Row ten features rookie Tristan Vautier and the two Dale Coyne Racing entries of Ana Beatriz and Pippa Mann. This is Mann's first IndyCar race since being injured in the 15-car accident that led to the abandonment of the 2011 IndyCar season finale in Las Vegas.
And on the final row will be American rookie Conor Daly, son of former Indianapolis 500 starter Derek Daly, ahead of 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Lazier with Katherine Legge starting in the thirty-third and final position.
For what it is worth, more 32 year olds (10) have won the Indianapolis 500 than any other age. 32 year olds in this year's race: Ed Carpenter, Will Power, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Scott Dixon and Katherine Legge.
Chance of rain remains at 30% with a high of 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
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