Indianapolis 500 Tag

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Sebastian Saavedra is set to make his sixth start in the Indianapolis 500 after being confirmed for the second car at Juncos Racing. The announcement came just 24 hours after Spencer Pigot was revealed for the first car, giving team owner Ricardo Juncos two drivers with prior experience at the 2.5-mile oval. Saavedra will pilot the No. 17 AFS/Juncos Racing Chevrolet, with AFS owner Gary Peterson a partner in the effort. A best career finish at Indianapolis of 15th in 2014 with KV Racing (Ironically, whomRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, IndyCar & Road to Indy Writer Juncos Racing has announced that Spencer Pigot will pilot the No. 11 Chevrolet-powered entry in the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500. The Mazda Road to Indy stalwart team have decided to step up to running in the Indianapolis 500 this year ahead of a planned full time run in the Verizon IndyCar Series in 2018. Pigot has run for Juncos Racing for several seasons. He won the 2014 Pro Mazda title and was crowned Indy Lights champion in 2015 for Ricardo Juncos’sRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, IndyCar & Road to Indy Writer Fernando Alonso completed his rookie test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500.  The Spaniard ran 110 laps with a fastest lap of 222.548 mph (40.4408 seconds). To get to that speed, however, the two-time Formula One World Champion had to pass his rookie orientation at Indianapolis by running 10 laps between 205-210 mph, 15 laps between 210-215 mph and then 15 laps over 215 mph. The minimum number of laps to complete is 40Read More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso has completed his Rookie Orientation Program for the 101st Running of the Indianapolis presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. The 35-year-old Spaniard took on three phases of ROP with a total of 50 laps and ran a best time of 40.9735 seconds (219.654 mph) around the 2.5-mile oval. The program for incoming rookies consists of 40 laps that run as follows: Phase 1 is 10 laps over 210 mph. Phase 2 is 15 laps over 215 mph. Phase 3 isRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, IndyCar & Road to Indy Writer A new sponsor will adorn Juan Pablo Montoya’s entry in the 101st Indianapolis 500 as Team Penske announced that Fitzgerald Glider Kits will be featured prominently on the No. 22 Chevrolet piloted by the two time Indianapolis 500 winner. Fitzgerald is making its debut at Barber Motorsports Park with Josef Newgarden’s No. 2 Chevrolet and will also be on Montoya’s entry at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 13th. “Team Penske is proud to work with Fitzgerald and to have theRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief McLaren F1 have confirmed that Jenson Button will replace Indianapolis 500-bound Fernando Alonso for the Monaco Grand Prix on May 28. It was announced on Wednesday that Alonso would be competing for the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil in a McLaren-branded Honda entry with Andretti Autosport. The unique situation brings the 37-year-old Brit back after a stepping out of the cockpit at the end of last season. Having spent time since as an ambassador for McLaren and as a reserveRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Despite never getting a full time look at a Verizon IndyCar Series ride over the offseason, Matthew Brabham looks poised for a return to the Indianapolis 500 this upcoming May. The 23-year-old American Aussie made his series debut in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis last season with upstart Pirtek Team Murray, staying out of trouble and finishing 16th after completing all 82 laps. Continuing on for the Month of May festivities at the Brickyard, Brabham made the field of 33 for the 100th Running of theRead More

By Aaron Bearden, NASCAR Contributor Andretti Autosport’s shocking announcement Wednesday of the addition of two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso to the team’s roster for the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented by Penngrade Motor Oil in a joint venture with McLaren sent a shockwave that’s rippled through the motorsports world throughout the day. The repercussions of the announcement have yet to be seen, but the one immediate effect it’s had on fans is a thought of whom else they’d like to see participate in the Month of May. Every fanRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, IndyCar & Road to Indy Writer Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso will race in the 2017 Indianapolis 500, driving a McLaren-branded Honda-powered entry run by defending champions Andretti Autosport. The 35-year-old Spaniard cited multiple reasons for wanting to race at Indianapolis in a statement issued by McLaren-Honda this morning. Among them, his desire to emulate the late Graham Hill and become just the second driver to complete the Triple Crown of Motor racing. “I’ve won the Monaco Grand Prix twice, and it’s one of my ambitions to win theRead More

Two Indianapolis businessmen, Mike Harding of Harding Group and Dennis Reinbold of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, have formed a technical alliance for the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil and will field an entry for driver Gabby Chaves. The Harding Group has been an instrumental partner with Indianapolis Motor Speedway in paving projects and client hospitality. For the first time this May, the company will field a car in the Indianapolis 500 with the formation of Harding Racing announced today. Chaves will drive the No.Read More