INDYCAR 2015

Indianapolis 500 Practice

TICKETS:  $15, children 12 and under free.

PUBLIC GATES OPEN: Noon (local time). Pedestrian gates open are Gates 1B, 2, 4, Media Gate, 7 Vehicle, 7 South Pedestrian, 9A, 10, 10A, 12.

STANDS OPEN:  B Stand (As needed GA – Sec. 22-25), E Stand (Open-GA), North Vista Wheelchair (As needed GA, Sec. 21), Northwest Vista (As needed GA, Sec. 1-4), Northwest Vista Deck (Open-GA), Paddock (As needed GA, Sec. 9-18), Paddock Pressbox (Open-GA), Paddock Penthouse (As needed GA, Sec. 9-30), Pit Road Terrace (Open-GA), South Terrace (Open-GA), Tower Terrace (As needed GA, Sec. 37-42), Tower Terrace Wheelchair (Open-GA), Wheelchair Accessible (Open GA), Backstretch Mounds (Open-GA), Backstretch Family Mounds (Open-GA), Turn 2 Mounds (Open-GA), Turn 3 Mounds (Open-GA), Gasoline Alley Roof (Open-GA)

MUSEUM HOURS: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for fans 6-15 years old, with children under 5 free. Gate admission to the Indianapolis 500 is not included in Museum admission and must be purchased separately.

Old National Armed Forces Pole Day

TICKETS:  $20, children 12 and under free.

NOTE: Since qualifying will start fresh tomorrow we will honor General Admission tickets from Saturday, May 16, on Sunday, May 17, for qualifying for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Please bring Saturday’s ticket stub as it will be honored at the gates.

PUBLIC GATES OPEN: 7:30 a.m. (local time). Pedestrian gates open are Gates 1, 1B, 2, 3, 4, 6, Media Gate, 7 Vehicle, 7 South Pedestrian, 9, 9A, 10, 10A, 12.

MILITARY DISPLAY: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway continues its longstanding tradition of honoring our nation’s military during Indianapolis 500 qualifying on Sunday by showcasing an impressive display of military equipment in the IMS Midway. Presented by the Indiana National Guard, the exhibit includes two Armored Security Vehicles, a Shadow UAV Drone Launcher, three Humvees, a water purification system and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

STANDS OPEN: A Stand (As needed GA – Sec. 1-4), B Stand (As needed GA – Sec. 22-25), B Penthouse (As Needed GA-Sec. 21-25), E Penthouse (Open GA), E Stand (Open-GA), E Penthouse (Open GA), North Vista Wheelchair (As needed GA, Sec. 21), Northwest Vista (As needed GA, Sec. 1-4), Northwest Vista Deck (Open-GA), Paddock (As needed GA, Sec. 9-18), Paddock Pressbox (Open-GA), Paddock Penthouse (As needed GA, Sec. 9-30), Pit Road Terrace (Open-GA), Southeast Vista (As Needed GA – Sec. 1-3), South Vista Deck (Open GA), South Terrace (Open-GA), Tower Terrace (As needed GA, Sec. 37-45), Tower Terrace Wheelchair (Open-GA), Wheelchair Accessible (Open GA), Backstretch Mounds (Open-GA), Backstretch Family Mounds (Open-GA), Turn 2 Mounds (Open-GA), Turn 3 Mounds (Open-GA), Gasoline Alley Roof (Open-GA)

MUSEUM HOURS: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for fans 6-15 years old, with children under 5 free. Gate admission to the Indianapolis 500 is not included in Museum admission and must be purchased separately.

Persistent afternoon rain canceled the remainder of scheduled track activity on the first day of qualifications for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, so the process begins anew May 17.

A revised schedule for Old National Armed Forces Pole Day calls for the 34 entries to make one four-lap qualifying attempt each on the 2.5-mile oval (10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET), followed by the “Fast Nine Shootout” (1:45-2:30 p.m.) in which the top nine cars return to determine the Verizon P1 Award for pole position and the first three rows for the May 24race. Finally, positions 31-33 will be determined in a 45-minute session (3-3:45 p.m.).

Ryan Hunter-Reay (229.845 mph) and Carlos Huertas (228.235) were the only drivers to post four-lap qualifying runs before the rain today, but those will not count since not everyone was able to make an attempt. Two groups of cars will be accorded practice time from 8-8:20 a.m. and 8:20-8:40 a.m. (ET) May 17, prior to qualifying.

In today’s morning practice, Helio Castroneves recorded a lap of 233.474 mph that, while unofficial, is the fastest lap at Indianapolis Motor Speedway since the 1996 race when Eddie Cheever Jr., had the fastest race lap at 236.103 mph. That same year, Arie Luyendyk set the one- and four-lap qualifying records (237.498 mph and 236.986 mph, respectively).

“That 233 mph number was pretty cool, but it was with a little bit of help (with a tow from cars in front of him),” said Castroneves, driving the No. 3 Shell V-Power Nitro+ Team Penske Chevrolet. “The guys have really done an amazing job over the last couple of days since the (May 13 crash). To lose a day and still be on top of the practice speeds is a testament to how hard they worked. The weather, there is nothing we can do about the weather. We’ll just come back and see what’s in store.”

Castroneves seeks to join A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as four-time Indy 500 winners, and he’s in contention for pole history, too. Castroneves, with No. 1 qualifying efforts in 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2010, is tied with Foyt and Rex Mays. A fifth would put him second among all-time Indy 500 pole winners, one behind Team Penske consultant Mears. Castroneves also could give team owner Roger Penske a record-extending 18th pole position at the Indy 500.

Added Team Penske teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, the Verizon IndyCar Series championship points leader: “It’s a little bit of a disappointment that we didn’t get to qualify today because the Team Penske cars were very strong in the practice sessions. I’ve been happy with the car even though we continue to struggle a bit with the balance. We are confident that we know what direction we need to go with the weather. It’s going to be a fast, exciting qualifying session, I know that.”

In 2014, Ed Carpenter earned the Verizon P1 Award in the Fast Nine Shootout with a four-lap average speed of 231.076 mph – the second consecutive year that Carpenter started from the pole. He’ll seek to become the first to earn the pole in three consecutive years May 17. Twenty drivers have won the race from the pole – most recently Castroneves in 2009.

“Last year we were pretty solid, so I think we can get in (to the Fast Nine Shootout), but we’ve got to play our cards right and find a little bit (of speed),” said Carpenter, driver of the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka CFH Racing Chevrolet. “The thing we’ve got to figure out is how to make the fourth lap still be good.”

Source: INDYCAR • Photo: Brian Groce

At first glance, the 2015 Indianapolis 500 qualifying format is a bit confusing. OK, it’s still confusing after a second or third look as well.

To simplify it a little, let’s take a look at the top 9 positions first.

• To place in the front three rows (pole position through 9th place) cars must qualify on both Saturday and Sunday, AND be in the top 9 on Saturday.
• Cars in the top 9 going into Sunday will start no worse than 9th place.
• Positions 1-9 get one qualifying attempt on Sunday to determine their starting position.
• Failure to have a valid qualifying run on Sunday would place you at the end of the top 9 (unless, of course, you make some change that would normally place you at the back of the field).

On to the 10th through 33rd positions, it gets a little more confusing. Since we currently have 34 car/driver combinations, we’ll assume that we’ll have a full field, with one car being bumped.

In this scenario, positions 10-30 on Saturday are locked into the field, at no worse than 30th. Final starting positions will be based on the results of Sunday qualifications

Positions 31-33 can qualify and bump each other on Sunday. To qualify in these spots you must either have qualified on Saturday in 31-33, been bumped on Saturday, or declare your intent to qualify by 7pm on Saturday.

And that’s the less confusing breakdown of qualifications. If there’s rain, which is in the forecast both days, that’s where things get even more interesting. I’m not going to bother going into that, as it came across to me as that they’d play it by ear if that were the case.

Bottom line, you want to be in the Fast Nine as of Saturday.

View the PDF version.

Image & PDF Source: INDYCAR

“Fast Friday” proved just that at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with six Verizon IndyCar Series drivers running laps in excess of 230 mph on the final full practice day before qualifying for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

Speeds have been up in practice on the 2.5-mile oval this week from a year ago, in great part due to the new aerodynamic bodywork kits developed by Honda and Chevrolet this season. In addition, INDYCAR again granted additional engine turbocharger boost to the manufacturers today through qualifying weekend that will yield approximately 40 added horsepower and faster speeds.

Taking advantage of it all, Simon Pagenaud posted the fastest lap of the month in the final half-hour of practice. Battling shifting winds, Pagenaud’s top lap was 230.698 mph in the No. 22 Avaya Team Penske Chevrolet.

“The conditions were difficult,” said Pagenaud, who earned $10,000 and the F.E. Harding Fastest Lap Award for topping the chart on Fast Friday. “The conditions were finally hot and there are a lot of differences in how the body kits react depending on the weather. For Team Penske, the biggest thing is we worked really well as a team to get different versions of aero levels for tomorrow and understanding that, so we can look at that information tonight and decide very precisely what we need.”

Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Scott Dixon (230.655) and Tony Kanaan (230.457) were nipping at Pagenaud’s heels on the speed chart, with Andretti Autosport’s Marco Andretti leading the Honda contingent fourth overall with a lap of 230.312. Also eclipsing the 230 plateau were Team Penske’s Will Power (230.206) and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Sage Karam (230.166), the latter admitting he was wary of the windy conditions.

“It was very slippery,” said Karam, driver of the No. 8 Comfort Revolution/Big Machine Records Chevrolet. “In qualifying trim in general, the cars are very sketchy. Every lap I was out there, I felt like I was going to crash. Tomorrow’s going to be the longest five laps (one warmup lap at speed and four qualifying laps) of my life. The car is really, really fast, but it’s on edge. I think we have a good shot at the Fast Nine, which is the goal. …I think it will come down to the most fearless driver winning the pole this weekend.”

A year ago, only one driver – two-time defending Verizon P1 Award winner Ed Carpenter – crested 230 mph prior to the first qualifying day. While many of the top laps today were set with aid of a “tow” from leading cars cutting through the air in front of them, three drivers – Dixon, Power and Karam – posted “no-tow” laps that still topped 230. All 34 cars entered in this year’s Indianapolis 500 took to the track.

Attention now fully shifts to qualifying mode. Two hours of practice are scheduled forSaturday morning, ahead of the six-hour, 50-minute qualifying session that sets the provisional field. All cars return Sunday for qualifying that sets the final starting grid, and with 34 entries, the potential for cars “bumping” their way into and out of the field looms large.

Huertas Draws First Qualifying Position, Pagenaud Down the List

Carlos Huertas, in the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda, drew the first qualifying spot in the blind draw following practice. Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indianapolis 500 champion in the No. 28 DHL Andretti Autosport Honda, was second. Backup cars were included in the draw, though some teams don’t have them and most don’t plan to use them.

Pagenaud drew the 52nd overall spot (23rd among primary cars), Dixon fourth (third among primary cars) and reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion Power 26th overall (14th among primary cars).

Source: INDYCAR • Photos: Brian Groce

Indianapolis 500 Qualifications

TICKETS:  $20, children 12 and under free.

PUBLIC GATES OPEN: 7 a.m. (local time). Pedestrian gates open are Gates 1, 1B, 2, 3, 4, 6, Media Gate, 7 Vehicle, 7 South Pedestrian, 9, 9A, 10, 10A, 12.

SPECIAL EVENT: A group of young local entrepreneurs met recently with the Verizon IndyCar Series drivers they’ve been paired with to raise funds for charity on Lemonade Day at the Track,May 16 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A total of 10 lemonade stands will be set up on Pagoda Plaza that day and will be open from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The young business owners selected to operate the stands will sell their individually prepared beverages to fans attending the first day of qualifications for the 2015 Indianapolis 500. Portions of the proceeds from each stand go to charities designated by the driver teamed with each stand. Among the charities benefitting from the day will be: the Julian Center (Juan Pablo Montoya), Susan G. Komen (Pippa Mann), Indianapolis Humane Society (Will Power, Simon Pagenaud) and Indy Family Foundation (Ed Carpenter).

MILITARY DISPLAY: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will continue its longstanding tradition of honoring our nation’s military during Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Weekend by showcasing an impressive display of military equipment in the IMS Midway on Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17. Presented by the Indiana National Guard, the exhibit includes two Armored Security Vehicles, a Shadow UAV Drone Launcher, three Humvees, a water purification system and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

STANDS OPEN: A Stand (As needed GA – Sec. 1-4), B Stand (As needed GA – Sec. 22-25), B Penthouse (Open GA), E Penthouse (Open GA), E Stand (Open-GA), E Penthouse (Open GA), North Vista Wheelchair (As needed GA, Sec. 21), Northwest Vista (As needed GA, Sec. 1-6), Northwest Vista Deck (Open-GA), Paddock (As needed GA, Sec. 9-18), Paddock Pressbox (Open-GA), Paddock Penthouse (As needed GA, Sec. 9-30), Pit Road Terrace (Open-GA), Southeast Vista (As Needed GA – Sec. 1-3), South Vista Deck (Open GA), South Terrace (Open-GA), Tower Terrace (As needed GA, Sec. 37-42), Tower Terrace Wheelchair (Open-GA), Wheelchair Accessible (Open GA), Backstretch Mounds (Open-GA), Backstretch Family Mounds (Open-GA), Turn 2 Mounds (Open-GA), Turn 3 Mounds (Open-GA), Gasoline Alley Roof (Open-GA)

MUSEUM HOURS: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for fans 6-15 years old, with children under 5 free. Gate admission to the Indianapolis 500 is not included in Museum admission and must be purchased separately.