Naptown Buzz

Your source for all things Indy™

2017 Indianapolis 500

Max Chilton Returns to Chip Ganassi Racing for 2017

by

Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) announced that international insurance brokerage and risk management services firm Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will return in 2017 as the primary partner with CGR’s No. 8 Honda driven by Max Chilton in the Verizon IndyCar Series.

Gallagher, headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, has operations in 33 countries and offers client-service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

SOURCE: Chip Ganassi Racing

101st Indianapolis 500 tickets on sale now

by

101-indy-500-tickets

Tickets for the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil are on sale today, along with the entire 2017 Month of May schedule. Fans who have not already pre-ordered tickets can visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ticket office or IMS.com to purchase their seats for an action-packed schedule that also includes the IndyCar Grand Prix, Indy 500 practice and qualification days, concerts and so much more.

“Many fans jumped at the chance to renew their tickets after this year’s historic race, with reserved seat purchases already trending notably higher than several previous years,” said Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles. “The 101st Running is going to be a spectacle worthy of the world’s largest single-day sporting event and we can’t wait to see an enthusiastic crowd celebrate more history and thrills at IMS. Our renewal demand was high, so if you haven’t purchased your ticket yet, now is the right time to get the view you want.” 

IMS has long been a family-friendly facility, offering free General Admission to all racing events for children 12 and under when accompanied by a paid adult. Starting this year, IMS will extend this offer to kids up to 15 years old, and will also introduce new grandstand family packages for several 2017 events.

The Month of May’s first event, the IndyCar Grand Prix, is a great way to test-drive these exciting new opportunities while watching reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion and Team Penske driver Simon Pagenaud defend his 2016 victory on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile IMS road course. 

“The IndyCar Grand Prix is a really fantastic family event and a great way to introduce your kids to racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Boles said. “It offers an up-close-and-personal view of the drivers and one of my favorite Month of May moments: the chance to walk on the most famous racetrack in the world after the race.”

From there, the riveting countdown to “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” moves forward with the first Indy 500 practice taking place on Monday, May 15. Indy 500 qualifications begin on Saturday, May 20, with Pole Day on Sunday, May 21. Miller Lite Carb Day and Legends Day presented by Firestone will again provide thrills for both music and racing fans on Friday, May 26, and Saturday, May 27. 

The epic 101st edition of the world’s most iconic race will take place on Sunday, May 28. Reigning champion Alexander Rossi of Andretti Autosport will return to defend his crown against both newcomers and previous winners for another hard-earned spot on the Borg-Warner Trophy. 

“There’s no place like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Memorial Day Weekend,” said Rossi. “I can’t wait to come back this May and race in the 101st Running of the Indy 500. Everyone in our series dreams about winning this race and I know we’ll put on a great show for our fans.”

SOURCE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Juan Pablo Montoya returns to Team Penske for 2017 Indianapolis 500

by

Montoya 2015-02-17-indycar-media-day-15

Juan Pablo Montoya will return to Team Penske for the 2017 Indianapolis 500, team president Tim Cindric confirmed to INDYCAR. It is currently the only Verizon IndyCar Series race that the two-time Indy 500 winner is scheduled to drive in the 2017 season.

Montoya has won 15 Indy car races in 91 career starts over five seasons. The 41-year-old Colombian drove for Chip Ganassi Racing in CART in 1999-2000 and for Team Penske from 2014-16, with stints in Formula One and NASCAR in between. He won the CART championship in 1999 and the Indianapolis 500 in 2000 and 2015.

Driving the No. 2 Chevrolet for Team Penske in 2016, Montoya finished eighth in the Verizon IndyCar Series standings with a win in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Team Penske signed Josef Newgarden to drive the No. 2 car in 2017, leaving Montoya without a fulltime seat with the team. When Team Penske announced the addition of Newgarden last month, Cindric said Montoya was offered the opportunity to drive a Team Penske car in next year’s Indianapolis 500.

Montoya explored options with other Verizon IndyCar Series teams but decided a return to Penske gave him the best chance to win a third Indy 500, according to Cindric, who confirmed the agreement today with the INDYCAR Mobile app. Cindric said details of Montoya’s involvement for the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil will be announced at a future date.

“He didn’t want to leave the team but wanted to see what else was out there,” Cindric told the INDYCAR Mobile app. “After giving it some thought, he told me the best opportunity was to run Indy with Team Penske, so if the offer still stood, that is what he wanted to do.”

Montoya will complete a Penske armada at Indianapolis that includes the top four finishers in the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series standings – champion Simon Pagenaud, second-place Will Power, third-place Helio Castroneves (a three-time Indy 500 winner) and Newgarden. It will mark the first time for Team Penske to field five cars at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

“The fact we are going to stay together and try to win Indy together speaks about our relationship between the team and Juan,” Cindric said.

SOURCE: INDYCAR