Day 1 at the Speedway

Combined times for Day 1 as practice starts for the 500

Very interesting reading

Out Now.

Out Now for the Month of May.

Power takes 3rd Indy GP win.

Power makes history with third INDYCAR Grand Prix win, 200th Indy car win for Team Penske

Will Power etched his name further into the INDYCAR Grand Prix record books while extending the legacy of team owner Roger Penske in Indy car history.

Power won the Verizon IndyCar Series race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course for the second straight year and third time overall - each victory coming from the pole position. Power's triumph by 2.2443 seconds over Scott Dixon also marked Indy car win No. 200 for Team Penske, nearly double that of any other team.

"It's amazing," said Power, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. "It just shows what sort of team that Penske is, and it's a real honor to drive for Roger. We're given the equipment week in and week out to win, so I can't thank him enough for the opportunity he's given me."

Power led 56 of 85 laps on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile permanent road course to collect his 33rd career victory (ninth all time). Thirty of those triumphs have come since joining Team Penske in 2009, tying the 37-year-old Australian with Helio Castroneves for the most with the team.

Power chased down race leader Robert Wickens, who started second in the No. 6 Lucas Oil Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda, and made a daring outside pass heading into Turn 1 on Lap 51 to take first place. Seven laps later, Power's crew barely got him out of the pits in front when nearly the entire field made final stops for fuel and tires under the second and last full-course caution of the race.

From there, Power kept Wickens and then Dixon in his mirrors to the finish - all the while stretching his tank of Sunoco E85 ethanol to the checkered flag.

"I had to save a lot of fuel at the end and go fast because I knew how good Dixon is at saving fuel and going fast. The Chevy had great fuel mileage," said Power, the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series champion. "Man, I've never driven so hard for an entire race. I was 100 percent the whole time. Yeah, I'm exhausted. Every lap was like a qualifying lap."

Team Penske made its Indy car debut on June 15, 1968, at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, with driver Mark Donohue. Three years later, Donohue delivered the team's first win at Pocono Raceway. In 1972, Donohue drove to the first of what is now a record 16 Indianapolis 500 wins for Team Penske. Adding the four INDYCAR Grand Prix victories, 10 percent of Team Penske's Indy car wins (20 of 200) have come at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Penske, the 81-year-old mastermind of the team, downplayed the achievement of the 200th win. He gave credit to Power and his crew while also looking ahead to the prize he craves most - another Indianapolis 500 win.

"What a great day for the team," Penske said. "The greatest drivers have performed for us. IMS is the most special place to secure our 200th win. I could not think of a better setting. The most important win now is No. 201."

Dixon, bidding to pick up a 42nd career victory that would tie him for third all-time with Michael Andretti, was satisfied to finish runner-up for the 39th time in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda - particularly after a disappointing qualifying effort on Friday locked him into the 18th starting position.

"It was a great result today for the PNC Bank car and the whole team," the four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion said. "Everyone on the Ganassi team never quits, never gives up and we were able to make up a lot of spots and finish second. 

"I think that was the worst I've ever qualified without crashing or having a technical issue. Good day in the points for the No. 9 team. I love having this race open up the month for us here at Indy."

Wickens continued to impress in his rookie season, collecting a second podium and third top-four finish in five races. The 29-year-old Canadian admitted that trying to race hard while conserving fuel in the final stint was a learning experience.

"It was the first time in my career I've had to save fuel like that, but in the end, happy with the podium," Wickens said. "Would have liked to be a bit further up, but hard to complain."

Sebastien Bourdais finished fourth in the No. 18 Team SealMaster Honda, using his push-to-pass overtake boost on the final lap to zip past Alexander Rossi (No. 27 NAPA AUTO PARTS Honda) for the position. Helio Castroneves, making his Verizon IndyCar Series return following a full-time switch this season to Team Penske's sports-car program, placed sixth in the No. 3 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.

The race tied an INDYCAR Grand Prix record with seven different leaders and featured 214 on-track passes with the 2018 car's universal aero kit - an increase of 96 passes from a year ago. 

There were two full-course caution periods for eight laps. The first came on the opening lap when Castroneves and teammate Simon Pagenaud touched, and Jordan King ran into the back of Pagenaud. The second caution waved on Lap 56 when Josef Newgarden spun trying to pass Bourdais.

Newgarden finished the race in 11th place, but continues leading the standings. The reigning series champion is two points ahead of Rossi, 26 up on Bourdais and 31 ahead of Dixon.

Following two days off to convert the cars and Indianapolis Motor Speedway to superspeedway oval configuration, practice for the 102nd Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil begins on Tuesday. Qualifying to set the 33-car field takes place May 19-20. 

Mazda Road to Indy results

Colton Herta (Andretti-Steinbrenner Racing) outdueled Santi Urrutia (Belardi Auto Racing) to the win the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires race on the IMS road course for the second straight day. After six races, Herta trails Andretti Autosport teammate Pato O'Ward by one point in the standings.

Parker Thompson (Exclusive Autosport) drove to his second win of the season in the second Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires race of the weekend. Thompson opened a 22-point advantage in the standings over Rinus VeeKay (Juncos Racing) after six races.

In the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda Kyle Kirkwood (Cape Motorsports) held off Alex Baron (Swan-RJB Motorsports) in the second race of the weekend, in a reversal of the first race finishing order. Kirkwood leads Baron by 13 points in the championship after four races.  

Don't forget Issue 1 of Race Control the all new IndyCar fan magazine launches this week. Look out for it on ZINIO.com simply search Race Control from this Thursday. A link will be posted here as well. Its a must read for the month of May.

Kelly Clarkson at Indy

Music Superstar Kelly Clarkson To Perform National Anthem at 102nd Indianapolis 500.

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, May 10, 2018 - Multiple Grammy Award-winning superstar Kelly Clarkson will perform the national anthem before the start of the 102nd Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on Sunday, May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Clarkson will sing on Race Day in the traditional spot before the 33 drivers are called to their cars in front of the largest single-day spectator sporting event crowd in the world. 

Clarkson, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, first rose to fame in 2002 as the winner of the inaugural season of "American Idol." She has grown to become one of the most popular artists of any era, with more than 100 No. 1 singles on all Billboard charts and total worldwide sales of more than 25 million albums and 36 million singles.

She has won three Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards, two American Country Awards and one Country Music Association Award.

This will be the second time Clarkson has performed the anthem before the Indianapolis 500, as she also sang in 2011 with Seal while accompanied on piano by David Foster.

"We're thrilled to welcome Kelly back to IMS on Race Day to sing the national anthem for hundreds of thousands of fans in the stands and millions of viewers around the world," IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. "She is an incredible live performer with a wonderful and instantly recognizable voice. We look forward to her rendition of the national anthem during one of the most poignant moments of this iconic global sporting spectacle."

Clarkson has released eight studio albums, one greatest hits album and two children's books. Her most recent album and first for Atlantic Records, the soul-inspired "Meaning of Life," was released in October 2017 and features the Grammy-nominated single "Love So Soft." The album's second and latest single is the stunning ballad "I Don't Think About You."

Plus its now under a week to the launch of Race Control 

The all new IndyCar fan magazine. Its going to be a point of difference and a great read.

Check out the Facebook page and the launch details will be out next week. Its a must.

https://www.facebook.com/racecontrol/

Rookie day timings from the Speedway

Rookie and Refresher day timings

1 5 Wickens, Robert (R) D/H/F Practice 1 00:40.8884 220.111 37

2 4 Leist, Matheus (R) D/C/F Practice 1 00:40.8956 220.073 71

3 5 Howard, Jay D/H/F Practice 2 00:40.9747 219.648 61

4 32 Kaiser, Kyle (R) D/C/F Practice 1 00:41.0078 219.470 74

5 24 Karam, Sage D/C/F Practice 2 00:41.1710 218.600 45

6 13 Patrick, Danica D/C/F Practice 2 00:41.1900 218.500 52

7 6 Wickens, Robert (R) D/H/F Practice 1 00:42.7340 210.605 15

(R) Rookie

Open Test at Indy Day 1

Combined Lap Times Open Test Day 1

On a very green track and very early days below are the first of many timing results for the month of May.

1 14 Kanaan, Tony D/C/F Test Session 2 00:39.7912 226.181 62

2 22 Pagenaud, Simon D/C/F Test Session 2 00:39.8388 225.910 108

3 98 Andretti, Marco D/H/F Test Session 2 00:39.8871 225.637 45

4 88 Chaves, Gabby D/C/F Test Session 2 00:39.8884 225.630 81

5 9 Dixon, Scott D/H/F Test Session 2 00:39.9205 225.448 86

6 18 Bourdais, Sebastien D/H/F Test Session 2 00:39.9420 225.327 107

7 21 Pigot, Spencer D/C/F Test Session 2 00:39.9421 225.326 82

8 10 Jones, Ed D/H/F Test Session 2 00:39.9743 225.145 96

9 20 Carpenter, Ed D/C/F Test Session 2 00:40.0205 224.885 63

10 3 Castroneves, Helio D/C/F Test Session 2 00:40.0582 224.673 109

11 15 Rahal, Graham D/H/F Test Session 2 00:40.1027 224.424 82

12 12 Power, Will D/C/F Test Session 2 00:40.1052 224.410 113

13 23 Kimball, Charlie D/C/F Test Session 2 00:40.1987 223.888 92

14 1 Newgarden, Josef D/C/F Test Session 2 00:40.2326 223.699 125

15 30 Sato, Takuma D/H/F Test Session 2 00:40.2667 223.510 89

16 59 Chilton, Max D/C/F Test Session 2 00:40.3138 223.249 75

17 26 Veach, Zach (R) D/H/F Test Session 2 00:40.3947 222.802 67

18 27 Rossi, Alexander D/H/F Test Session 2 00:40.4073 222.732 80

19 28 Hunter-Reay, Ryan D/H/F Test Session 1 00:40.4083 222.727 74

20 5 Hinchcliffe, James D/H/F Test Session 1 00:40.6016 221.666 95

21 60 Harvey, Jack (R) D/H/F Test Session 1 00:40.7999 220.589 89

(R) Rookie

Total Laps for Combined Sessions: 1820

Indy Open Test Day 1

Ageless Kanaan sets pace in Indianapolis oval open test.

Its about to happen the month of May will soon be upon us. The rescheduled open test however kicked things off on Monday, April 30 (US time)  and it was the dawn of a new Indy car that tested at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but it was the old guard leading the way.

Tony Kanaan, at 43 the elder statesman in the Verizon IndyCar Series this season, was fastest in the  open test at the 2.5-mile oval for drivers with previous Indianapolis 500 experience. The 2013 Indy 500 winner and driver of the No. 14 ABC Supply AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet posted a top lap of 226.181 mph to lead the 21-car field following six hours of on-track activity.

"Every year we come back (to Indianapolis) the first day, everybody has a huge smile on their faces," Kanaan said. "I love it, I love this place. I mean, it's magical. I wish we could do this every race.

"It was a beautiful day out there. Got a lot of laps in, a lot of learning to do."

Simon Pagenaud was second fastest in the No. 22 Menards Team Penske Chevrolet, at 225.910 mph, with Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian's Marco Andretti third at 225.637. While all the drivers' best laps were aided by aero tows from cars in front of them, Kanaan also racked up the fastest non-tow lap of 223.240 mph.

"Always such a pleasure to drive here," said Pagenaud, looking to add to his two INDYCAR Grand Prix wins on the IMS road course with an Indianapolis 500 victory on the iconic oval. "Having the opportunity to be one of those drivers to hit the track 240 miles an hour, it's pretty cool. We did a lot of work today. It was really a good day of testing. Great day, great conditions for testing as well."

The open test allowed drivers and teams to become acclimated with the 2018 Indy car and its universal aero kit in superspeedway trim, in advance of the 102nd Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on Sunday, May 27.

More than 1,800 laps were turned as teams ran alone and in small groups to better understand the nuances of the new package.

"I think it was pretty smooth," Kanaan said. "You saw everybody came up to speed pretty fast, which is pretty remarkable, in my opinion. To me, it was a lot quicker down the straightaways, which was quite fun. It was like back in the day. 

"You definitely feel the speed going down the straightaway. You have to hang on into the corners. A little bit different, to be honest, but fun."

The test day also featured the return to IMS of Helio Castroneves. The three-time Indy 500 winner has shifted gears to racing full time this season for Team Penske's sports-car operation, but team owner Roger Penske promised Castroneves the opportunity to return to INDYCAR this May and bid again to join A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as the only four-time champions of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

Castroneves placed 10th on the test speed chart with a lap of 224.673 mph in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet, but was giddy to be back in the surroundings that have treated him so well in his two-decade Indy car career.

"It's great to be back ... awesome," said Castroneves, who will join Kanaan as a 43-year-old on May 10.

"It's like you're playing with your old toy that (you) miss so bad," he said. "It's really great to be back in INDYCAR. Twenty years I've been doing it, so the details, I'm like, 'Hey, I remember this.'"

Four other past Indy 500 winners participated in the open test. Scott Dixon, the 2008 winner who competed late Sunday night in the city qualifier for NBC's "American Ninja Warrior" held in downtown Indianapolis, was fifth in testing in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda (225.448 mph); defending race winner Takuma Sato was 15th in the No. 30 Mi-Jack/Panasonic Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (223.510), 2016 winner Alexander Rossi was 18th in the No. 27 NAPA AUTO PARTS Honda (222.732) and Andretti Autosport teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay 19th in the No. 28 DHL Honda (222.727).

IMS testing continues Tuesday  in the US with the rookie orientation program for newcomers Pietro Fittipaldi, Kyle Kaiser, Matheus "Matt" Leist and Robert Wickens set for 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET. Danica Patrick makes her return to Indy car racing official during a veteran refresher session from 2-5 p.m. that also includes Jay Howard and Sage Karam. A Chevrolet and Honda manufacturer test day is scheduled from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday and will feature 11 drivers.

Newgarden tests INDYCAR windscreen prototype at IMS

Following the open test, Verizon IndyCar Series points leader Josef Newgarden ran laps in his No. 1 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet with INDYCAR's windscreen prototype attached. It was the second on-track test of the prototype, following one in February by Dixon on the ISM Raceway mile oval outside Phoenix.

"It was fascinating," Newgarden said. "It was totally different for an open-wheel car. You're not used to having a windscreen that big in front of you, but it was interesting to try it out. 

"The most interesting thing to me was the visor changes (on his helmet). Going from a fully smoke visor to a clear visor was better. It helped with the visibility and the clarity. 

"There's small improvements to be made, especially with the clarity with the visors and the perception to see through it," Newgarden added. "It was easy to make it work, I didn't have any major issues with it, and I think INDYCAR did a nice job."

Additional testing of the prototype is planned. INDYCAR has not issued a timetable for implementation of the windscreen on cars in competition.  

Meda ex IndyCar Media Services.