Indianapolis 500 Tag

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer People must be hiding under a rock if they’re unaware of two of Formula One’s household names missing the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge — McLaren and their driver Fernando Alonso. More striking that the driver/team combo that send them packing was one of the NTT IndyCar Series’ smallest teams of Juncos Racing, with Kyle Kaiser representing the driver’s seat. What an amazing story on both ends because Juncos undeniably spent hours upon hours preparing a backup car and even after skipping the morningRead More

By INDYCAR INDIANAPOLIS – Simon Pagenaud started the day celebrating his pole-winning effort in qualifications for the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge by participating in the traditional front-row photo shoot. He ended the day at the front of the speed chart. Pagenaud was the fastest driver in a two-hour practice Monday afternoon on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval as the 33 qualifiers tuned their cars in race trim in preparation for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” just six days away. INDIANAPOLIS 500 PRESENTED BY GAINBRIDGE: Practice 8 results I Combined practice resultsRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer INDIANAPOLIS — Sage Karam’s month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway had many peaks and valleys, but the 24-year-old managed to find the pace to qualify 31st for the 103rd Indianapolis 500. After confidence in his No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet became hard to find, the 2013 Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires champion had teammate and former Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, J.R. Hildebrand drive it on Fast Friday. Karam’s struggles on Saturday included very light wall contact. That meant that Sunday’s LastRead More

By INDYCAR INDIANAPOLIS – In what has become another Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge tradition, the 33 participating drivers in this year’s race will fan out across North America on Tuesday to spread the word about the upcoming running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” This year, the 103rd Indianapolis 500 field is scheduled to visit 18 cities in less than 24 hours. Drivers will meet with local media in each location to discuss the race and partake in activities to increase the already-surging interest in the Indianapolis 500, theRead More

By INDYCAR INDIANAPOLIS – Simon Pagenaud continued on his roll this May, winning the pole position for the upcoming 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso, however, will be a spectator for the May 26 race after failing to successfully qualify. In a drama-filled Sunday afternoon that featured separate qualifying sessions to fill opposite ends of the 33-car starting grid, Pagenaud completed a four-lap Fast Nine Shootout qualification run on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway superspeedway at 229.992 mph to earn the NTT P1 Award, theRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer INDIANAPOLIS — Juncos Racing were the epitome of a roller coaster ride leading up to qualifying for the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500. Lose a sponsor in the days before practice opened at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Crash on Fast Friday. Stay up all Friday night preparing the car to qualify on Saturday. Run three incomplete qualifying attempts Saturday afternoon. Stay up all Saturday night further preparing the car for Sunday. Skip Sunday morning practice before the rain came down. Qualify 33rd and bump FernandoRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief INDIANAPOLIS — Fernando Alonso will not compete in the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on May 26. The two-time Formula One champion was bumped from the field of 33 during the Last Row Shootout on Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after Kyle Kaiser edged his rival with four-lap qualifying run by 0.019 of a second. “I didn’t spend much time with the team yet,” Alonso said. “I’ve been only in my motorhome, and yeah, talking with friends or family and followingRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief INDIANAPOLIS – Fernando Alonso endured a turbulent qualifying bout during the first day of qualifying for the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. The two-time Formula One champion was part of the juggling act of drivers that rotated from in and out of the locked top 30 positions. The first of an eventual five attempts was thwarted by a right rear tire puncture, with his best four-lap average of 227.224 mph coming on his final run of the day. The result wasn’t enough to fend offRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer INDIANAPOLIS– One year after failing to make the 2018 Indianapolis 500, James Hinchcliffe has more qualifying drama ahead of the 2019 Indianapolis 500. Hinchcliffe drove the No. 5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda to a first lap speed of 228.159 mph during his first qualifying attempt. While going through Turn 2, the 2016 Indianapolis 500 polesitter lost control of his car and hit the SAFER barrier exiting the corner. He was evaluated and cleared to drive but his team had a mountain to climb getting theRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer INDIANAPOLIS– What a difference a year makes. A reversal of fortune for Pippa Mann at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway meant that she qualified 30th for the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500 instead of being on the outside looking in. Mann’s No. 39 Clauson-Marshall Racing Driven 2 Save Lives Chevrolet qualified at 12:27 in the afternoon with a four lap average of 227.244 mph. That average put her in 17th position at the time. However, the weather conditions grew cooler as the late afternoon shadows beganRead More