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Inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis Qualifying Results

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Verizon IndyCar Series drivers have said to “expect the unexpected” on the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course for the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis. Sebastian Saavedra earning the Verizon P1 Award fits into that category.

The AFS KV AFS driver claimed his first Verizon IndyCar Series pole position topping a wild knockout qualifying session that took place during a rain shower.

Saavedra, whose previous best qualifying effort on a road/street circuit was ninth in the first two events of 2013 (St. Petersburg and Barber Motorsports Park), inherited the top spot in the closing minute of the Firestone Fast Six when the No. 28 DHL car of provisional pole sitter Ryan Hunter-Reay spun and made contact with the wall on the frontstretch of a rain-soaked 2.439-mile, 14-turn.

According to the Verizon IndyCar Series rulebook, Hunter-Reay’s quickest two laps of the 10-minute session were disallowed.

Saavedra is the fourth different pole sitter in as many races this season and he’ll be joined by another surprise driver, Jack Hawksworth of BHA/BBM with Curb-Agajanian. Six different teams were represented on the first three rows for the standing start on the Speedway’s frontstretch. Hunter-Reay ended up third and will start alongside Simon Pagenaud, who was quickest in the morning practice session and set the lap record (1:09.6716) on the reconfigured track in Segment 1 of qualifying on dry pavement in the No. 77 Schmidt Peterson Hamilton Motorsports car.

Series championship points leader Will Power, driving the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car, and reigning series champion Scott Dixon in the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing entry are on Row 3.

Qualifying results for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis Verizon IndyCar Series event on the 2.439 mile(s) Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, with qualifying position, car number in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, time and speed in parentheses, are listed below:

1. (17) Sebastian Saavedra, Dallara-Chevy, 01:23.8822 (104.675)
2. (98) Jack Hawksworth, Dallara-Honda, 01:24.0788 (104.431)
3. (28) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 01:24.8882 (103.435)
4. (77) Simon Pagenaud, Dallara-Honda, 01:25.2881 (102.950)
5. (12) Will Power, Dallara-Chevy, 01:25.5216 (102.669)
6. (9) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Chevy, 01:25.6548 (102.509)
7. (11) Sebastien Bourdais, Dallara-Chevy, 01:24.5187 (103.887)
8. (2) Juan Pablo Montoya, Dallara-Chevy, 01:24.6209 (103.762)
9. (10) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Chevy, 01:24.7099 (103.653)
10. (3) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Chevy, 01:24.8839 (103.440)
11. (27) James Hinchcliffe, Dallara-Honda, 01:25.1318 (103.139)
12. (15) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 01:25.4748 (102.725)
13. (25) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.2488 (124.990)
14. (8) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Chevy, 01:10.2261 (125.030)
15. (67) Josef Newgarden, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.3601 (124.792)
16. (14) Takuma Sato, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.2804 (124.934)
17. (18) Carlos Huertas, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.4264 (124.675)
18. (19) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.4141 (124.697)
19. (34) Carlos Munoz, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.5097 (124.528)
20. (41) Martin Plowman, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.4591 (124.617)
21. (26) Franck Montagny, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.5571 (124.444)
22. (16) Oriol Servia, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.5996 (124.369)
23. (83) Charlie Kimball, Dallara-Chevy, 01:10.6413 (124.296)
24. (20) Mike Conway, Dallara-Chevy, 01:10.6535 (124.274)
25. (7) Mikhail Aleshin, Dallara-Honda, 01:11.2704 (123.198)

SOURCE: IndyCar

Grand Prix of Indianapolis Qualifying / USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights Races

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Information about 2014 Grand Prix of Indianapolis activity Friday, May 9, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

DAY: Grand Prix of Indianapolis Qualifying / USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights Races

SCHEDULE (all times local):

  • 8:45 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Public Gates Open
  • 8:45 a.m.-9:45 a.m. IndyCar Experience
  • 9 a.m. IMS Midway Opens
  • 10 a.m-10:45 p.m. Verizon IndyCar Series practice
  • 11 a.m.-11:45 a.m. USF2000 Qualifying
  • Noon-12:45 p.m. Pro Mazda Qualifying
  • 1 p.m.-1:45 p.m. Indy Lights Qualifying
  • 2 p.m.-3:10 p.m. Verizon IndyCar Series Qualifying
  • 3:30 p.m. USF2000 Race #1
  • 4:30 p.m. Pro Mazda Race #1
  • 5:30 p.m. Indy Lights Race #1
  • 6:30 p.m. Public Gates Close
  • 7 p.m.-Midnight Rev Event (Separate admission)

TICKETS: $20, children 12 and under free

HONORARY STARTERS:

  • 10 a.m. Verizon IndyCar Series Practice: Lincoln Electric Representative (TBD)
  • 4:30 p.m. Pro Mazda Race: Allied Building Products Representative (TBD)

PUBLIC GATES OPEN: 9 a.m. (local time). Pedestrian gates open are Gates 1B, 1B.1, 2, 4, 6, 6A, 7 South, 7 North, 9, 9A, 10, 10A, 12.

STANDS OPEN: A Penthouse, B Penthouse, E Stand, E Penthouse, H Stand (As needed: Sec. 13-24), J Stand, North Vista Wheelchair (As needed: GA Sec. 21), Northwest Vista (As needed GA: Sec. 1-10), Northwest Vista Deck, Paddock Wheelchair (As needed GA: Box 19-22), Paddock Penthouse (As needed GA: Box 10-20), South Terrace, South Vista (As needed GA: Sec. 1-5), South Vista Deck (As needed GA: Sec. 1-4), Southwest Vista Deck, Tower Terrace (As needed: Sec. 37 & 79), Tower Terrace Wheelchair, Pit Road Terrace, Wheelchair Accessible (Inside), Corner 5, Corner 7.

MUSEUM HOURS: 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for fans 6-15 years old, with children under 6 free. Gate admission to the Indianapolis 500 is not included in Museum admission and must be purchased separately.

Opening Day/Grand Prix of Indianapolis Practice

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Information about 2014 Grand Prix of Indianapolis activity Thursday, May 8, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

DAY: Opening Day/Grand Prix of Indianapolis Practice

SCHEDULE (all times local):

  • 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Public Gates Open
  • 8:45 a.m.-9:45 a.m. IndyCar Experience
  • 9:50 a.m. Road Course Track Ceremony – Pit Lane Yard of Bricks
  • 10 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Verizon IndyCar Series practice
  • 11 a.m.11:45 a.m. USF2000 Practice
  • Noon-12:45 p.m. Pro Mazda Practice
  • 1 p.m.-1:45 p.m. Indy Lights Practice
  • 2 p.m.-2:45 p.m. Verizon IndyCar Series Practice
  • 3 p.m.-3:30 p.m. USF 2000 Practice
  • 3:45 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Pro Mazda Practice
  • 4:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m. Indy Lights Practice
  • 5:30 p.m. Celebration of Automobiles Track Laps Begin

TICKETS: Free

HONORARY STARTERS:

  • 1 p.m. Indy Lights Practice: Delta Dental Representative (TBA)
  • 2 p.m. Verizon IndyCar Series Practice: Rick Zivny, Wabash National

PUBLIC GATES OPEN: 9 a.m. (local time). Pedestrian gates open are Gates 1B, 1B.1, 2, 4, 6, 6A, 7 South, 9, 9A, 10, 10A, 12.

STANDS OPEN: A Penthouse, B Penthouse, E Stand, E Penthouse, H Stand (As needed: Sec. 13-24), J Stand, North Vista Wheelchair (As needed: GA Sec. 21), Northwest Vista Deck, Paddock Wheelchair (As needed GA: Box 19-22), Paddock Penthouse (As needed GA: Box 10-20), South Terrace, South Vista (As needed GA: Sec. 1-5), South Vista Deck (As needed GA: Sec. 1-4), Southwest Vista Deck, Tower Terrace (As needed: Sec. 37 & 79), Tower Terrace Wheelchair, Pit Road Terrace, Wheelchair Accessible (Inside), Corner 5, Corner 7.

MUSEUM HOURS : 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for fans 6-15 years old, with children under 6 free. Gate admission to the Indianapolis 500 is not included in Museum admission and must be purchased separately.

Inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis Track Schedule

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Thursday, May 8
Free Admission

  • 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Public Gates Open
  • 10-10:45 a.m., Verizon IndyCar Series practice #1
  • 11-11:45 a.m., USF2000 Practice
  • Noon-12:45 p.m., Pro Mazda Practice
  • 1-1:45 p.m., Indy Lights Practice
  • 2-2:45 p.m., Verizon IndyCar Series Practice #2
  • 3-3:30 p.m., USF2000 Practice
  • 3:45-4:15 p.m., Pro Mazda Practice
  • 4:30-5:15 p.m., Indy Lights Practice
  • 5:30 p.m., Celebration of Automobiles Track Laps Begin

Friday, May 9
$20 admission, 12 and under free

  • 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Public Gates Open
  • 10-10:45 a.m., Verizon IndyCar Series practice #3
  • 11-11:45 a.m., USF2000 Qualifying
  • Noon-12:45 p.m., Pro Mazda Qualifying
  • 1-1:45 p.m., Indy Lights Qualifying
  • 2 -3:10 p.m., Verizon IndyCar Series Pole Qualifying for the Verizon P1 Award (knockout qualifying and Firestone Fast Six format).
  • 3:30-4:10 p.m., USF2000 Race #1
  • 4:30-5:10 p.m., Pro Mazda Race #1
  • 5:30-6:10 p.m., Indy Lights Race #1
  • 7 p.m. Rev Methodist Health Foundation, in Partnership with Indiana University Health, Event Begins (Separate Admission)

Saturday, May 10
Tickets start at $25, 12 and under free 

  • 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Public Gates Open
  • 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Celebration of Automobiles
  • 10 a.m. Firestone “Race Car” Pin Distribution, Pagoda Plaza
  • 10:30 a.m. – Verizon IndyCar Series systems check
  • 11-11:50 a.m., USF2000 Race #2
  • 12:10-1 p.m., Pro Mazda Race #2
  • 1:30-2:30 p.m., Indy Lights Race #2
  • 2:45 p.m., IMS Grid Girl Entrance – Pagoda Yard of Bricks
  • 3 p.m. – Verizon IndyCar Series pre-race
  • 3:50 p.m. ­- Grand Prix of Indianapolis (82 laps/200 miles), ABC (Live)

INDYCAR Drivers Awarded All-America Honors

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IndyCar Series drivers Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves and 2013 Indy Lights champion Sage Karam have been selected to the 2013 American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America team.

Dixon, who claimed his third IndyCar Series Championship for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, and Castroneves, who finished second in the standings for Team Penske were the top vote getters in the Open Wheel division. Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport and Will Power of Team Penske were named to the second team.

Karam was honored as one of the two top vote getters in the At Large category while Andretti Autosport’s Carlos Munoz was voted the Rising Star award after success in both Indy Lights and a second-place finish in the Indianapolis 500.

SOURCE: INDYCAR

Firestone Indy Lights Delays New Car Until 2015

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Firestone Indy Lights announced Thursday that the introduction of its next-generation car will be delayed until after the 2014 season.

“While we have generated quite a bit of interest from a variety of manufacturers, we feel it’s best to delay the introduction of the next-generation chassis and engine,” said Tony George Jr., director, Firestone Indy Lights. “We want our teams, drivers and manufacturers to be competitive and successful, and if that means taking a step back to create a stronger series to support the economics of this long-term capital investment as well as a formula that we believe will allow our drivers to transition between Pro Mazda and the IZOD IndyCar Series, then we’re willing to make sure the introduction is timed properly.”

Series officials, citing the desired attributes of a contemporary chassis with enhanced aerodynamics and technology, announced last May that a request for proposal had been distributed to potential manufacturers and development firms for both engine and chassis. All Firestone Indy Lights competitors currently run a Dallara chassis and 3.5-liter, normally aspirated V8 engine.

“We continue to spend a considerable amount of time conducting due diligence, taking into account the needs of our teams, drivers, manufacturers and other key constituents to make our series stronger,” George said. “This ongoing process has proven just how much people believe in Firestone Indy Lights and the entire Mazda Road to Indy driver development system.”

INDYCAR continues to make investments to grow Firestone Indy Lights while providing further value to all participants throughout the Mazda Road to Indy system that also includes the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda and the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires.

This season Firestone Indy Lights has an improved TV package, with all races televised on NBC Sports Network. The television schedule features enhanced time windows, serving as lead-in programming to IZOD IndyCar Series broadcasts where the schedules allow, showcasing the series to a larger audience. The Freedom 100 on May 24 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be televised live.

Additionally, INDYCAR recently re-launched the Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy website as part of indycar.com, serving as the go-to resource for news and features on the next generation of the sport’s stars.

The Firestone Indy Lights champion, claiming a Mazda Road to Indy scholarship to apply to an IZOD IndyCar Series program, has graduated to the premier series three of the past four years. Tristan Vautier will drive for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in the 2013 season. Scholarships also were awarded to 2012 Pro Mazda champion Jack Hawksworth and USF2000 champion Matthew Brabham, both of whom will graduate to the next step on the ladder this season.

“INDYCAR would like to thank the suppliers, manufacturers and other parties for their continued interest and involvement in the development of the new car,” George said. “Everyone involved believes there is a bright future ahead for the series.”

Source: INDYCAR

KeyBank recognizes Fan Force United as Community Leader

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fanforceunitedlogoFan Force United may have completed its first year in Firestone Indy Lights, but its impact has already been felt in and around the racing community.

The team has been awarded the $3,000 KeyBank Community Leader Award given to the Firestone Indy Lights driver or team that best displays community outreach.

The team was associated with several charitable causes throughout the season. Emerson Newton-John ran the No. 42 Pink and Blue For Two car for two races in support of the cancer awareness campaign centered around promoting awareness of breast and prostate cancer. Also featured on its cars throughout the season was Noah’s Rainbow, a non-profit organization supporting children and families faced with life threatening illnesses in memory of Noah Paul Yamilkoski.

“It really is an honor for us,” said team co-owner Chris Williams. “We try hard to engage the community and reach out to them as our fans. We didn’t do it for any awards but more for giving back to community. We thank KeyBank for their support of the series and this award.”

Other charitable associations included the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, Megan’s Mega Weekend fundraiser, the Rich Lentz Family Cancer Benefit, Team Jeremiah and a tribute to the life of Michael Roman, an aspiring race car driver.

Source: INDYCAR