Experience the early evening on Georgetown Road the night before the 2016 Indy 500 via the Fence Cam.
WARNING: Adult language.
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2016 Indy 500
Georgetown Road Photos Night Before the Indy 500 (Part 1)
Night Before the Indy 500 pictures from the Naptown Buzz mounted action camera on Georgetown Road during the early evening on Saturday, May 28, 2016.
Newburgh’s Caitlyn Foye Crowned 2016 500 Festival Queen
Caitlyn Foye of Newburgh has been crowned the 2016 500 Festival Queen. Foye is a sophomore at Butler University where she is studying Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She is one of 33 young women who were selected for the 2016 500 Festival Princess Program, where they serve as ambassadors for the 500 Festival. Foye is a graduate of Castle High School.
The 500 Festival Queen and Princesses attend 500 Festival events and volunteer throughout the month of May. In addition, the 33 princesses are involved with statewide outreach programs of their choosing. Princesses also participate in the Indianapolis 500 Victory Circle celebration.
As 500 Festival Queen, Foye is the recipient of a $1,500 educational scholarship from the 500 Festival. In addition, she will wear the one-of-a-kind 500 Festival Queen’s crown at 500 Festival events and the Indianapolis 500. She will participate in a variety of appearances throughout the week and participate in the Indianapolis 500 pre-race and Victory Circle celebrations. She will continue to represent the 500 Festival at various functions throughout the year.
SOURCE: 500 Festival ♦ PHOTO: Brian Groce
hhgregg “Race An Andretti” Was a Blast!
Each May we have the privilege of doing some pretty cool events related to the Indy 500 and INDYCAR. While we don’t officially kick off the Indy 500 festivities until Monday, today we had the opportunity to head up to hhgregg with the entire family to “Race an Andretti”.
During May we don’t have a lot of time to enjoy the festivities with the kids, and with the demise of IMS “Community Day” last year, that left a hole during the time slots we’re not working the Indy 500. So I have to thank hhgregg & Andretti Autosport for putting this event together.
My kids had a blast at this event, and will be talking about it for years to come. And by the looks of the crowd, I’m sure that they’re not the only ones. These are the type of events that make memories and also make new fans.
As far as the racing side of things goes, the professionals cleaned house. I think I saw maybe one person beat them, and I believe that was by someone who races RC cars a lot.
Even though I didn’t win, I enjoyed myself immensely. And it was quite nice to have an afternoon doing something race related that was relaxing AND with the entire family. For tomorrow we hit the track running.
Gabby Chaves joins Dale Coyne Racing
Dale Coyne Racing has signed Gabby Chaves to pilot its #19 Boy Scouts of America entry at this weekend’s Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis as well as for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
Chaves, who raced for Bryan Herta Autosport last season, won the 2015 Sunoco Rookie of the Year title and was also named Rookie of the Year at the Indianapolis 500 after qualifying as the fastest rookie and finishing 16th.
“What can I say, I’m really excited. It’s been the longest off-season of my life,” expressed Chaves. “Throughout my whole career I’ve always been on the grid in the first race of the season and this has been the first time that I haven’t. I thought I had many deals in place before and for some reason or another it never came through. I’ve been speaking with Dale for years now and I’m excited to get something going with him and the team. I’m just really looking forward to it. With my time out of the car, I’ve really been able to value what it means to me to be in a race car. I can now get back on track and enjoy it even more.
“The Angie’s List Grand Prix was a really good race for me last year. I believe this is where I led my first race lap, I think it was only one lap though but it counts and we were the second or third fastest Honda in qualifying so I’m pretty comfortable around here and I think I can do the job,” added the Columbian.
Chaves will be making his 17th Verizon IndyCar Series start this weekend and his first of 2016. He scored a best finish of ninth last year at the second race at Belle-Isle and placed 15th in the points standings.
The 2014 Indy Lights Champion placed 15th at last year’s Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis.
“We’re very excited to have Gabby join us for the next two races, we’ve been in communication for a long time and it’s all finally come together,” shared Team Owner Dale Coyne “He showed a lot of maturity last season, he was quick, mistake-free and made great decisions behind the wheel that you don’t normally see coming from a rookie. We look forward to seeing what he can do in our #19 car.”
Chaves, along with teammate Conor Daly, will be on track starting at 11:00 am ET Thursday, May 12 for the first practice session.
The fifth round of the Verizon IndyCar Series season will go green on Saturday, May 14 at 3:50pm ET with live television coverage on ABC starting at 3:30pm ET.
Live timing and scoring will be available at racecontrol.Indycar.com for all sessions with live streaming also available during practice and qualifying.
SOURCE: Dale Coyne Racing ♦ PHOTO: Brian Groce
ESPN ‘SportsCenter’ to have major presence at 100th Indy 500
ESPN’s signature news and information program, “SportsCenter,” will have a major and significantly expanded presence at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the week of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race presented by PennGrade Motor Oil in May.
The epic 100th edition of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will get the green flag live on ABC on May 29, marking the 52nd consecutive year for the network to broadcast the race. ESPN will lead up to its sister network’s race telecast with four live “SportsCenter on the Road” programs originating from IMS, as well as reports airing within other editions of the program. This will be “SportsCenter on the Road’s” first visit to IMS since ESPN launched the initiative in 2015 and will mark the first live “SportsCenter” programming from the Indy 500 in more than a decade.
In addition to previewing the premier race of the Verizon IndyCar Series with drivers, team owners and others, “SportsCenter” programs also will pay tribute to the long history of the Indianapolis 500 with guest appearances by past champions and special features.
“We’re thrilled ‘SportsCenter’ will be on hand to bring millions of viewers across the globe an up-close look at the monumental 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500,” said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Company, the parent of INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “The buildup to the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ will make for compelling television, showcasing the world-class drivers, intense competition and innovative technology that propel the Verizon IndyCar Series forward.”
“I can’t think of a better place to be than the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as we approach race day for the 100th Running of the Indy 500,” said J. Douglas Boles, IMS president. “Our fans are going to love hosting the ‘SportsCenter’ team on site and today’s good news will truly make the month of May even more exciting and unforgettable for everyone.”
The “SportsCenter” presence at the Indianapolis 500 will include two live one-hour programs on race morning, with hosts Matt Barrie and Sara Walsh on a set in the IMS Pagoda Plaza area. The first program will air from 8-9 a.m. ET on ESPN, while the second will air on ESPN from 10 a.m. until ABC’s telecast begins at 11 a.m. Barrie and Walsh will have live reports from IMS during the 9-10 a.m. hour while “SportsCenter” airs on ESPN2.
On May 28, the day before the race, Barrie and Walsh will host a three-hour edition of “SportsCenter on the Road” from IMS beginning at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN. The 6 p.m. ETMay 27 edition of “SportsCenter,” hosted by Lindsay Czarniak, will also air from IMS on ESPN.
In addition to the four live programs, other editions of “SportsCenter” will carry live reports, including segments with Czarniak in the 6 p.m. ET shows on May 25-26. After the race, the winner will have a live interview with “SportsCenter,” and Czarniak will have a “SportsCenter Sunday Conversation” with the winner that will air in the evening editions of the program.
Czarniak also will host the Indianapolis 500 pre-race show on ABC at 11 a.m. ET May 29. “SportsCenter” programming from IMS also will include contributions from ESPN reporters Marty Smith and Ryan McGee and other members of the ABC race coverage team.
“When a sporting event as iconic as the Indianapolis 500 reaches its 100th version, it’s a testament to its appeal, stature and longevity,” said Michael Fountain, ESPN senior coordinating producer, “SportsCenter.” “If there is a major event, ‘SportsCenter’ will be there, and we look forward to bringing the excitement and pageantry of Indy to our viewers.”
ABC’s first Verizon IndyCar Series race broadcast of 2016, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 13, saw a 52 percent ratings increase and 56 percent viewership from a year ago. The final rating was a 0.97 (up from 0.64 in 2015) with 1.391 million viewers tuned in (up from 891,000). It marked the highest viewership for a Verizon IndyCar Series season opener since 2011 and the third-highest non-Indianapolis 500 broadcast since 2012.
ABC will also broadcast the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis from the IMS road course on May 14, Indianapolis 500 qualifying May 21-22 and both races of the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit on June 4-5.
SOURCE: INDYCAR
Countdown to 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 kicks off February 19th
The 100-day countdown to the monumental 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil will kick off with a star-studded and action-packed 24-hour celebration beginning on Feb. 19. From Indianapolis to New York City, fans will celebrate the past, present and future of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing and the entire Verizon IndyCar Series.
“The 100th Running of the Indy 500 marks a monumental milestone for our sport and our nation,” Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles said. “Our 100-day countdown celebration will energize fans and build unprecedented anticipation for a truly historic race and a groundbreaking Verizon IndyCar Series season.”
“I can’t wait to celebrate the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500 with our fans for the next 100 Days,” IMS President Doug Boles said. “Feb. 19 will be an exciting and fun beginning to a memorable countdown that will be talked about for years to come. The 100th Running of the Indy 500 will be an unrivaled event that showcases our iconic legacy and sets the stage for an extremely bright future.”
Everything begins at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the late hours of Thursday, Feb. 18, where fans are invited to a community celebration beginning at 9:30 p.m. in the IMS pavilion. Just before midnight, attendees will gather at the Yard of Bricks for a special countdown moment. To learn more about Midnight on the Yard of Bricks, click here.
The next morning, on Friday, Feb. 19, IMS President Doug Boles, Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Helio Castroneves, Josef Newgarden, Ed Carpenter and Matthew Brabham will join Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson for a proclamation ceremony at the Indiana Statehouse.
The afternoon of Feb. 19 kicks off with a media event celebrating 50 years of Team Penske in racing and the opening of a special exhibit running through November at the IMS Hall of Fame Museum. Four-time Indy 500 champion Rick Mears will be on hand with fellow Team Penske driver and three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves to mark the occasion.
At 4 p.m., attention will shift to the financial capital of the world, with a special countdown event at the New York Stock Exchange. Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles and BorgWarner CEO James Verrier will take part in closing bell ceremonies alongside the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy.
Celebrations will come to a close that evening at the Crane Bay in downtown Indianapolis with a gathering celebrating the “Pursuit of Progress.” The event will be hosted by ESPN SportsCenter anchor Lindsay Czarniak and will feature four-time Indy 500 champion Rick Mears, Verizon IndyCar Series Driver Marco Andretti and a full roster of guests from the wider sporting world and beyond.