Indianapolis 500 Tag

By David Morgan, Associate Editor SPEEDWAY, Ind. – “If it’s meant to be, it will be.” Helio Castroneves hung up the helmet from full-time racing in the NTT IndyCar Series at the end of last season, but in his new role as co-owner at Meyer Shank Racing retained the option to race in the Indianapolis 500 and this season, he makes another run at the Drive for Five. The 49-year-old Brazilian is one of only four drivers to have won four times in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, along with A.J.Read More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor SPEEDWAY, Ind. – Kyle Larson already has a daunting plan in front of him on Sunday as he plans to run both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day in the latest attempt of a driver trying the INDYCAR/NASCAR doubleheader. Throw in a curveball with an iffy weather forecast for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing and the Arrow McLaren/Hendrick Motorsports partnership for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion will have some hard decisions to make on whether to keep Larson in IndianapolisRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor SPEEDWAY, Ind. – If Marcus Ericsson is to add a second Indianapolis 500 win to his resume, he’ll have his work cut out for him when the green flag drops on the 108th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing on Sunday. After crashing his primary car in practice on May 16, Ericsson has been struggling to find speed in his backup car, culminating with a near miss in qualifying last weekend in which he fell into the Last Row Shootout to even have a chanceRead More

By Kirby Arnold, Special Contributor SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Dominant as Team Penske’s three drivers have been this month at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, they know it will take a perfect performance to win the Indianapolis 500.  Success in practice and qualifying doesn’t always carry into a race where anything can happen. And probably will.   They must hit the right race-day setup, their engines must run without a hiccup, and pit stops must be trouble-free just to get them into a late-race shootout for the lead, which has become common in recent years. Read More

By Kirby Arnold, Special Contributor SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Defending Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden of Team Penske led practice Monday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet teams dominated the speed chart.  Again.  One day after Penske drivers swept the three front-row starting spots and Chevy-powered cars claimed the first eight positions for Sunday’s race, the story was much the same Monday in race trim.  Newgarden posted the fastest lap at 226.238 mph and, after Colton Herta was second in his Andretti Global Honda, the next five were Chevy cars – Will Power,Read More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor Kyle Larson is becoming a well-traveled man as he splits his time between Indianapolis and North Carolina between his full-time duties in the NASCAR Cup Series and his first attempt at the Indianapolis 500. On Sunday, that meant starting the day rocketing around Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the second day of Indy 500 qualifying, where he had advanced into the Fast 12 after Saturday’s first day of time trials. Larson posted the fifth-fastest time in the Fast 12 at 232.788 mph to move on to theRead More

By Kirby Arnold, Special Contributor SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Scott McLaughlin led a historic performance by Team Penske on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning the pole position for the Indianapolis 500 with an effort that hadn’t been accomplished in 36 years.  McLaughlin, Will Power and Josef Newgarden swept all three front-row spots for Team Penske, repeating what had only been done once in the history of the race, in 1988 when Penske drivers Rick Mears, Danny Sullivan and Al Unser Sr. qualified 1-2-3.  Running last among six drivers who advancedRead More

By Kirby Arnold, Special Contributor SPEEDWAY, Ind. – Team Penske continued its show of strength Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, its three drivers recording the fastest speeds on the first day of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. Will Power led the field with a four-lap average of 233.758 mph, followed by Scott McLaughlin (233.332 mph) and Josef Newgarden (233.293 mph) to comprise an all-Penske parade at the top of the speed chart. Alexander Rossi of Arrow McLaren was fourth-fastest at 233.069 mph and Kyle Kirkwood, 232.764 mph for Andretti Global,Read More

By Kirby Arnold, Special Contributor SPEEDWAY, Ind. – Operating without key personnel after suspensions because of the push-to-pass scandal, there’s one thing Team Penske isn’t lacking at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Speed.  Penske’s three cars posted the top three four-lap speeds Friday in preparation for Saturday qualifying for the Indianapolis 500.  Josef Newgarden averaged 234.063 mph in his mid-afternoon simulated qualifying run, Scott McLaughlin 233.623 and Will Power 233.451.  After one more short practice Saturday morning, qualifying will lock the fastest 30.  The Fast 12 will return Sunday for two roundsRead More

By Kirby Arnold, Special Contributor SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Practice for the Indianapolis 500 was a mix of qualifying simulations, race setups and, of course, rain on Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Pato O’Ward drove his Arrow McLaren Chevrolet to the fastest speed of the day at 228.861 mph, with Wednesday’s fast runner Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske second at 227.316 on the 2.5-mile track. Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing was third at 226.828.  After two days of rain and little track time since practice began Tuesday, teams put inRead More