All posts by Josh Farmer

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter INDIANAPOLIS – On a day when many super teams struggled, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports stole the show during qualifications for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. After finishing third in the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, James Hinchcliffe an claimed an emotional pole for the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’ Almost a year ago, the 29-year-old Canadian was fighting for his life after a suspension part penetrated his right leg and thigh after a part failure sent him into theRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter Nearly a year after his near fatal crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, James Hinchcliffe claimed the pole position during qualifying for the 100th Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. The Canadian was the final car to qualify in the Fast Nine Shootout to determine the pole. He had to beat a seemingly perfect qualifying run set by Ed Carpenter Racing’s Josef Newgarden. Newgarden set the fastest lap of the day with a 231.551 mph flyer and ended up with a four lap average ofRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter Scott Dixon will have to go to a new Chevrolet engine prior qualifying for the 100th Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. Near the end of final practice Sunday morning, the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet slowed down suddenly. The team discovered an issue with the engine and are currently making the change. Dixon, the defending Verizon IndyCar Series champion, missed out on the Fast Nine yesterday as CGR failed to have a car advance for the second time in the lastRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter Mikhail Aleshin made more qualifying attempts than anybody during qualifying for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, but it was his final attempt that payed dividends for his team. Aleshin’s first qualifying attempt solidly placed him in the top 10 with a 229.190 mph 4 lap average. Nearly two and a half hours later, Aleshin elected to go back out on track in order to give the Fast Nine another shot. Inching close to the wall each lap, theRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter. INDIANAPOLIS – Townsend Bell’s move to Andretti Autosport for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil seems to be paying off. Bell has been in the top ten in each session since Monday with Fast Friday being the best day for the Californian, logging the fastest lap of the week without a tow at 231.342 mph. Needless to say, the Andretti Autosport driver is in position to cash in big come pole day on Sunday if he advances into theRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter INDIANAPOLIS – Will Power turned up the wick during Happy Hour to set the fastest lap of the week in preparation for qualifying for this weekend’s 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. The Aussie caught a tow with around an hour remaining Friday evening to log a blistering lap of 232.672 mph. Josef Newgarden set the second quickest lap of the session late in the evening and was the only other driver to break 232 mph with a 232.364 mphRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter. INDIANAPOLIS – Due to only 33 cars being entered in the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, IndyCar will use Rule 8.4.3.4.4. for qualifications. The rule states that when there is only 33 cars entered in the 500, any car fails to complete their qualifying attempt and does not make a second attempt will be forced to qualify in group one on Sunday qualifying and be forced to start no higher than 10th. In the event that multiple cars doRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter. INDIANAPOLIS – NAPA Auto Parts will serve as the primary sponsor for of the #98 Andretti Autosport Honda driven by rookie Alexander Rossi for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. This will mark the first foray into Indy Car racing for the auto parts giant. “Andretti Autosport symbolizes the excellence NAPA AUTO PARTS has maintained for nearly 100 years,” said Tip Tollison, president of NAPA Balkamp in Indianapolis. With this being the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500, IRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter Dale Coyne Racing and Andretti Autosport led a clear and sunny Thursday practice for the 100th Running for the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. Gabby Chaves used a tow to set a flying lap of 227.961 mph on his third lap of the session to set the quickest lap of the day. “It’s only practice, but it feels pretty good,” said Chaves. “It’s my first time at the top of the charts here at IMS in IndyCar. Just pleased with the work theRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter Ryan Hunter-Reay’s Honda came to a halt in turn four for an apparent engine issue just around 4:09 p.m. Hunter-Reay had set the 10th quickest speed of the day (226.495) up until that point and was the quickest car on track yesterday. This is Honda’s second engine issue of the week with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports’ Mikhail Aleshin losing an engine yesterday. Honda Performance Development delivered a fresh Honda powerplant shortly after the car was towed back to the team’s garage and the team is swapping outRead More