Indy 500 Will Be Rescheduled If Fans Aren't Allowed to Attend Race on Aug. 23
Jun 7, 2020
FILE - In this May 29, 2016, file photo, James Hinchcliffe, of Canada, leads the field into the first turn on the start of the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Doug Boles had a very real fear following last year's 100th edition of the Indy 500: That many in the record-setting crowd packing his track last May would decide to be
The Indianapolis 500 will apparently only happen as scheduled on Aug. 23 if fans are permitted to attend amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar Series owner Roger Penske revealed as much to Robin Miller of RACER, noting it would be postponed until October if fans are not allowed at the speedway on the planned August date. President and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corporation Mark Miles confirmed the news to Michael McCleary of the Indianapolis Star.
Penske came to the decision following conversations with Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett.
McCleary noted that "Road America for the IndyCar's doubleheader weekend in Wisconsin July 11-12 is the earliest possible day fans could be welcome to an IndyCar event."
That means fans will not be in attendance at the IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader and Brickyard 400 on July 4-5 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"Trust me, we are going to run it (Indianapolis 500) with fans," Penske said, per Miller. "We're on for fans in August and planning on it and we feel good. It's still almost three months from now and I think we'll be OK. But we will run it only with fans."
This year's edition of the famous race will be the 104th.
The race traditionally happens on Memorial Day Weekend in May, but the decision to push it back to August amid the pandemic was made in March. It typically features hundreds of thousands of fans in attendance, making the plans to hold it in front of spectators in some capacity all the more notable.
As of Sunday, there have been more than seven million confirmed cases and more than 400,000 deaths stemming from COVID-19 across the world.
Former CART Rookie of the Year Bob Lazier Dies at Age 81
Apr 19, 2020
The wing and wheel logo of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is featured on the tires used by cars during practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 3, 2015. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Former CART driver Bob Lazier has died at the age of 81, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced Saturday (h/t ESPN).
Per Robin Miller of RACER, Chip Ganassi addressed the news of Lazier's death: "What sad news. I (went) skiing with Bob a few months ago at his place and we were up every morning at breakfast talking about everything and having a good time. He was such a great guy. Always upbeat."
Lazier was named CART Rookie of the Year in 1981, which was also the same year he made his first and only appearance in the Indianapolis 500. The Minnesota native finished 19th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
As a member of Fletcher Racing during the 1981 season, Lazier posted two fourth-place finishes and finished ninth in the points standings.
In addition to his legacy on the race track, Lazier became an enduring figure in IndyCar racing through his children. Buddy Lazier, his oldest son, won the 1996 Indianapolis 500 and continued to appear in the Memorial Day weekend race through 2017.
Simon Pagenaud Earns 2nd Virtual IndyCar Win with Twin Ring Motegi Victory
Apr 18, 2020
Simon Pagenaud waves before the IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Madison, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Simon Pagenaud is on a roll in the IndyCar iRacing Challenge.
The Team Penske driver came out on top at a virtual version of the Twin Ring Motegi course in Japan on Saturday, notching a second straight victory in the competition:
🍾 Back to back how about that!! Amazing @iRacing#IndyCar Challenge today at Motegi! Awesome strategy again and that was a great drag race with Dixon at the end. Cheers everybody! pic.twitter.com/GlNai90VfO
Scott Dixon (second), fellow Penske driver Will Power (third) and Marcus Ericsson (fourth) finished behind Pagenaud.
Pagenaud finished second in the 2019 IndyCar Series after earning back-to-back titles in 2016 and '17.
Pagenaud is also the reigning Indianapolis 500 champion.
Simon Pagenaud Wins IndyCar's 1st Virtual Race on Oval at Michigan Speedway
Apr 11, 2020
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN - APRIL 11: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (Editors note: This image was computer generated in-game) Simon Pagenaud, driver of the #22 DXC Team Penske Chevrolet, crosses the finish line to win the IndyCar iRacing Challenge Chevrolet 275 at virtual Michigan International Speedway on April 11, 2020 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
IndyCar made its long-awaited return to Michigan International Speedway on Saturday in the most unusual of ways. The two-mile oval track served as the backdrop for the series' Chevrolet 275 iRacing competition as the sport continues to create opportunities for its fans and drivers to stay engaged while events remain suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
2019 Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud took home first place Saturday, with Scott McLaughlin and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. placing second and third, respectively, out of the 31-car field.
At a time whenPagenaudwould otherwise be preparing for a return to Indianapolis in May, the French driver was trying to hold on to a lead from a simulator in his home.
"This is the most stressful I've ever felt in a race car,"Pagenaudsaid per the Associated Press.
The race wasn't without glitches. The first green flag was marred by massive crash that led to confusion by the drivers and a number of cars getting towed off the track. Despite anger among some of the crews,IndyCargave a stern reminder about what the point of the event was.
"The show is more important than where you guys finish in the race," and unnamediRacingofficial said. "I'm sorry; we will debrief after the race."
Pagenaudwent all out for the occasion, donning his fullfiresuitand spraying champagne after taking the checkered flag.
Competing from his home in Brisbane, Australia, McLaughlin could hardly believe he was spending the local sunrise trying to fend off Earnhardt.
For his part, Dale Jr. knows he lucked out with the crash early on. After lobbyingIndyCarfor an invite to the virtual race, theNASCARicon used his experience iniRacingto pull out a third-place finish.
"I had fun racing all those guys, a lot of them were pretty ticked off how the strategy worked out after that crash," Earnhardt said. "The fastest cars probably didn't win today, and the best SIM racers probably didn't win today."
Indy 500 Lineup 2019: Starting Grid and Viewing Info for IndyCar's Top Race
May 25, 2019
Simon Pagenaud, of France, celebrates after winning the Indy GP IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The highlight of the IndyCar season will take place on Sunday when the best drivers in the sport seek to emerge victorious in the Indy 500.
After a thrilling qualifying weekend that saw two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso fail to secure a spot in the race, it will be Team Penske's Simon Pagenaud that leads off the 33-strong field.
The Frenchman was the winner at the Indianapolis Grand Prix last time out and is clearly carrying excellent form into the race. However, he has some quality racers in close proximity on the grid, including Ed Carpenter for his eponymous team, as well as his team-mate Spencer Pigot.
Here is how the grid is shaping up for Sunday's race, plus the key viewing details and a preview of what's to come.
Indy 500 Fast Nine (all times in mph)
Row 1
1. No. 22 Simon Pagenaud, Chevrolet, 229.992
2. No. 20 Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, 229.889
3. No. 21 Spencer Pigot, Chevrolet, 229.826
Row 2
4. No. 63, Ed Jones, Chevrolet, 229.646
5. No. 88, Colton Herta, Honda, 229.086
6. No. 12, Will Power, Chevrolet, 228.645
Row 3
7. No. 18, Sebastien Bourdais, Honda, 228.621
8. No. 2, Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 228.396
9. No. 27, Alexander Rossi, Honda, 228.247
For the grid in full visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway website.
For IndyCar racers, the 500-mile race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the pinnacle of the sport. Given the mental resilience, focus and skill that's required to win this race, it's not a shock that victories in this event are so cherished.
In Sunday's field, there will be seven men who have experienced that feeling, although Pagenaud will be looking to achieve it for the first time.
The Frenchman backed up a solid week of practice with an exemplary performance in the Fast Nine on Sunday, as he seeks to secure back-to-back wins in the 2019 season.
Here is the moment he earned a win at the previous Grand Prix:
Grabbing pole position was historic for Pagenaud, too, as he became the first Frenchman in a century to be first on the grid.
There are plenty of competitors with the quality to hunt Pagenaud down, with his Penske team-mate Will Power in sixth. The Australian took the chequered flag in the race a year ago, but he is chasing his first win of the 2019 season.
Overall, it's been an unpredictable term in IndyCar, with each of the five races so far yielding different winners. Josef Newgarden is eight points clear of Scott Dixon at the top of the pile; they start in sixth and 18th, respectively.
In fifth, 19-year-old Colton Herta is hoping to become the youngest-ever Indy 500 winner, and he spoke about the challenge ahead with The Athletic:
At 22, George Steinbrenner IV is the youngest team owner in IndyCar history. His driver, Colton Herta, is the sport’s youngest winner. Together, they look to redefine IndyCar.
— The Athletic Motorsports (@TheAthleticAUTO) May 22, 2019
Given the chaos that usually follows the start and the duration of the event, the Indy 500 is one of the most unpredictable motorsport events in the world.
As the event creeps closer into view, Pagenaud will be feeling good about his chances. He finished sixth last year after starting in second on the grid and appears to be in better form coming into the 2019 race. If the 2016 IndyCar champion can get a clean start, he'll be a tough man to reel in later on.
Indy 500 2019: Start Time, Lineup, TV Schedule and More
May 25, 2019
The 103rd Indianapolis 500 takes place on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana.
Frenchman Simon Pagenaud will start on pole for the legendary 200-lap race, but there is no room for two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso, who failed to qualify.
Team Penske's Josef Newgarden is the current standings leader in the 2019 IndyCar Series and will start eighth on the grid.
It doesn't get much bigger in motorsports than the Indy 500.
The only race that can rival it is the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, which is also taking place on Sunday.
Will Power was the 2018 winner of the Indy 500, and he starts sixth on the grid this year while also sitting sixth in the points standings.
Pagenaud clocked an average time of 229.992 mph to give Penske its first Indy 500 pole for seven years.
He is in fine form having claimed four top-10 finishes from five races this season, including his victory at the IndyCar Grand Prix last time out.
The victories have been shared around so far in 2019, with Pagenaud, Newgarden, Colton Herta, Takuma Sato and Alexander Rossi all claiming one each.
Power's best finish so far this season was third place in the opening race at St. Petersburg, Florida, back in March.
The 2014 IndyCar Series champion is among the favourites to prevail on Sunday, as is five-time champion Scott Dixon, who won the Indy 500 from pole back in 2008.
Helio Castroneves then repeated the trick in 2009, but no driver since has gone on to win after starting at the front of the grid in the Indy 500.
Pagenaud will be looking to break that run on Sunday as he looks to claim victory in the biggest race of the season.
Indy 500 Lineup 2019: Starting Grid and Breakdown of Sunday's Thrilling Event
May 23, 2019
Team Penske's Simon Pagenaud will start Sunday's Indy 500 on pole position after the Frenchman came out on top after a gripping weekend of qualifying.
While much of the focus last Sunday was on Fernando Alonso's failure to qualify for the race in his McLaren, Pagenaud produced a brilliant performance to ensure he will be leading the drivers off at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chasing him will be Ed Carpenter and Spencer Pigot, who will begin in second and third, respectively, for the Ed Carpenter Racing team. The IndyCar Series leader Josef Newgarden is in eighth spot, while defending Indy 500 champion Will Power starts in sixth.
Read on for more details of how the drivers line up for Sunday and a preview of how the race will go.
Indy 500 Fast Nine (all times in mph)
Row 1
1. No. 22 Simon Pagenaud, Chevrolet, 229.992
2. No. 20 Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, 229.889
3. No. 21 Spencer Pigot, Chevrolet, 229.826
Row 2
4. No. 63, Ed Jones, Chevrolet, 229.646
5. No. 88, Colton Herta, Honda, 229.086
6. No. 12, Will Power, Chevrolet, 228.645
Row 3
7. No. 18, Sebastien Bourdais, Honda, 228.621
8. No. 2, Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 228.396
9. No. 27, Alexander Rossi, Honda, 228.247
For the grid in full visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway website.
Race Preview
While the absence of Alonso robs the race of a fine driver, there are many intriguing storylines to latch on to ahead of Sunday's showdown.
For Team Penske, Pagenaud appears to be hitting form at an ideal point in the campaign. After winning the Indianapolis Grand Prix, he was steady throughout qualifying before upping the ante on Sunday.
This was the moment he realised he had secured pole position for the most prestigious race on the circuit:
As the man himself noted, it's been a long time since a Frenchman was on pole for the Indy 500:
💯 years was long enough to wait to bring a Frenchman back to the pole at @IMS don’t you think?! Glad to wake up early this morning for front row photos, but ready to get back on track this afternoon for race set-up! // #indy500#thisismay#mustbemay#loveindypic.twitter.com/FHZkfQLdFH
The challenge will now be converting the optimal position into a win and moving into contention to compete for the overall IndyCar title—Pagenaud trails Newgarden by 37 points.
In a race renowned for its drama, Pagenaud will be taking little for granted, especially when there is a high-class selection of drivers behind him.
Pigot is chasing his first win in IndyCar and set the fastest speed of the weekend on Saturday, as his four-lap average was a blistering 230.083 miles-per-hour to send him into Bump Day as the quickest man on the circuit.
Power is another driver expected to shine on race day, and as Asher Fair of Beyond The Flag noted, he is regularly in contention in Indianapolis, having led at least one lap of every Indy 500 since 2013.
Power opened up on what he thinks will be needed to become the first driver to win this race back-to-back since Helio Castroneves in 2002:
While the experience held by the likes of Power and Alexander Rossi—who won the event in 2016—can be crucial in negotiating the chaotic early stages of the race, the fearlessness of youth can be an asset, too.
Colton Herta is one to watch with that in mind, with the 19-year-old seeking to become the first rookie winner of the race since Rossi's triumph three years ago.
Starting in fifth, Herta has a fine chance if he can stay out of trouble early on. However, there's an assurance about Pagenaud's driving at the moment, and the signs are that he will be tough to beat.
Former IndyCar Driver Al Unser Jr. Arrested for OWI in Indianapolis
May 20, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS - MAY 22: Former Indy 500 Winner Al Unser Jr. looks on during Miller Lite Carb Day practice for the IRL IndyCar Series 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 22, 2009 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
Former race car driver Al Unser Jr. was arrested early Monday morning in Hendricks County, Indiana, according to WISH-TV.
The 57-year-old has been charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, improper lane usage on a three (or more) lane highway and speeding.
According to the report, the arresting officer said Unser had "red and glossy eyes, slurred speech, and detected an odor commonly associated with alcoholic beverages emanating from his vehicle and person."
The officer also stated he was "consistently verbally hostile" toward the police.
Per ESPN, Unser reportedly staggered and fell to the ground after exiting the car.
"I have nothing to say," Unser said after walking out of jail. "Sorry, I have nothing to say."
This was the former driver's third arrest of this kind after being arrested for drunk driving in 2007 and 2011.
Unser is best known for winning the Indianapolis 500 in 1992 and 1994, while his father Al Unser won the event four times in his career.
Indy 500 Qualifying 2019: Pole Results, Starting Grid and Pre-Race Storylines
May 19, 2019
Sunday's Indy 500 qualifying was one of the most exciting the sport has seen, with the closest field in the history of the event with a four-lap average differential of 2.62 mph between the first and last qualifier.
Simon Pagenaud won the pole position as the fastest of the Fast Nine with a four-lap average speed of 229.992 mph for next Sunday's Indianapolis 500.
After a rough spring Simon Pagenaud is batting 1.000 in May. One week ago the Frenchman won the Indy GP via a thrilling late pass. On Sunday he won his first Indy 500 pole with a speed of 229.992 mph, topping three-time Indy 500 pole winner Ed Carpenter... https://t.co/hzoASDVE6U
"It's just amazing," Pagenaud told NBC Sports following his pole run. "Obviously, last week was amazing, but this is even more special. Team Penske has been phenomenal at giving me the best equipment. I can't thank them enough."
Pagenaud exceeded 230 mph on his first three laps, finishing out the fourth lap around 229.7, which brought his average down just below 230 for all four laps.
Last year's pole winner and thee-time career pole winner, Ed Carpenter, was a mere .103 mph behind Pagenaud with a four-lap average of 229.889 mph.
2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power will start in the third position of the second row alongside Ed Jones and Colton Herta. Power was not able to crack 229 mph on any of his four laps, averaging 228.645 mph on all four, placing him firmly as the sixth-fastest car.
Here's a look at the lineup for the Indianapolis 500 on May 26 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, per the Speedway's official website:
Indy 500 Lineup (all times in mph)
Row 1
1. No. 22 Simon Pagenaud, Chevrolet, 229.992
2. No. 20 Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, 229.889
3. No. 21 Spencer Pigot, Chevrolet, 229.826
Row 2
4. No. 63 Ed Jones, Chevrolet, 229.646
5. No. 88 Colton Herta, Honda, 229.086
6. No. 12 Will Power, Chevrolet, 228.645
Row 3
7. No. 18 Sebastien Bourdais, Honda, 228.621
8. No. 2 Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 228.396
9. No. 27 Alexander Rossi, Honda, 228.247
Row 4
10. No. 98 Marco Andretti, Honda, 228.756
11. No. 25 Conor Daly, Honda, 228.617
12. No. 3 Helio Castroneves, Chevrolet, 228.523
Row 5
13. No. 7 Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 228.511
14. No. 30 Takuma Sato, Honda, 228.300
15. No. 33 James Davison, Honda, 228.273
Row 6
16. No. 14 Tony Kanaan, Chevrolet, 228.120
17. No. 15 Graham Rahal, Honda, 228.104
18. No. 9 Scott Dixon, Honda, 228.100
Row 7
19. No. 77 Oriol Servia, Honda, 227.991
20. No. 23 Charlie Kimball, Chevrolet, 227.915
21. No. 48 JR Hildebrand, Chevrolet, 227.908
Row 8
22. No. 28 Ryan Hunter-Reay, Honda, 227.877
23. No. 19 Santino Ferrucci, Honda, 227.731
24. No. 4 Matheus Leist, Chevrolet, 227.717
Row 9
25. No. 60 Jack Harvey, Honda, 227.695
26. No. 42 Jordan King, Honda, 227.502
27. No. 81 Ben Hanley, Chevrolet, 227.482
Row 10
28. No. 26 Zach Veach, Honda, 227.341
29. No. 10 Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, 227.297
30. No. 39 Pippa Mann, Chevrolet, 227.244
Row 11
31. No. 24 Sage Karam, Chevrolet, 227.740
32. No. 5 James Hinchcliffe, Honda, 227.543
33. No. 32 Kyle Kaiser, Chevrolet, 227.372
Spencer Pigot, another driver for Ed Carpenter Racing alongside Carpenter himself, will close out the front row in the third position.
The second row features Jones in the interior, Herta in the middle and last year's winner Power in the exterior. Power just beat out Sebastien Bourdais by .024 mph for the last position in the second row, so Bourdais will start in the interior of the third row. He is joined by Josef Newgarden and Alexander Rossi to finish out the Fast Nine.
The 103rd Indianapolis 500—in a shocking turn of events—will not feature big racing name Fernando Alonso.
Kyle Kaiser bumped the two-time F1 champion with McLaren Racing from the Indy 500 field—squeezing into Spot 33 with an average of 227.372 mph and one of the smallest teams in IndyCar. Alonso was just behind him with an average of 227.353 mph, getting beaten out in the final run of the Last Row Shootout.
Just rode the elevator with Fernando Alonso and his team, minutes after he was bumped from the 2019 Indianapolis 500. He's not happy, and I don't mean just with being bumped. He has issues with how this whole thing just unfolded. #columncoming
Another big name in the Indy 500 qualifying, Helio Castroneves, came in outside of the Fast Nine, earning the third position in Row 4. Castroneves raced faster than the bottom two of the Fast Nine with a four-lap average of 228.523 mph.
All the drivers put their all into the qualifying Sunday, which bodes well for the race itself next week.
Any of the drivers, especially the Fast Nine, have the potential to come away with the Indianapolis 500 title, as the field is full of experienced drivers and past winners. The 103rd Indianapolis 500 will commence at 12:45 p.m. ET on May 26, preceded by a morning of music, parades and warm-ups.
Indy 500 Qualifying Results 2019: Simon Pagenaud Wins Pole Position for Race
May 19, 2019
Simon Pagenaud, of France, drives through a turn on his way to winning the Indy GP IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Simon Pagenaud will be staring at nothing but open track at the start of next Sunday's Indianapolis 500.
Pagenaud captured the pole position for the 103rd edition of the famous race during Sunday's qualifying with a four-lap average of 229.992 mph. He finished just ahead of Ed Carpenter (229.889 mph) and Spencer Pigot (229.826 mph), who will join him on the three-car Row 1.
Congrats @simonpagenaud! Thanks to the @IMS team who got it in today! And HUGE thanks to the fans that came out this weekend and those who stuck it out with us today! 1 Week to our favorite day of the year! #FieldIsSet
Here is a look at the first three rows following Sunday's session that was delayed for poor weather:
Simon Pagenaud, first place and Row 1
Ed Carpenter, second place and Row 1
Spencer Pigot, third place and Row 1
Ed Jones, fourth place and Row 2
Colton Herta, fifth place and Row 2
Will Power, sixth place and Row 2
Sebastien Bourdais, seventh place and Row 3
Josef Newgarden, eighth place and Row 3
Alexander Rossi, ninth place and Row 3
This was another notable performance from Pagenaud in May after he won his third career IndyCar Grand Prix earlier this month.
As Tadd Haislop of Sporting News explained, the 2019 Indy 500 qualifying was broken into two days with 36 racers vying for the 33-car field.
Saturday's session determined cars 10-30, while Sunday decided cars 31-33 and one through nine in two separate sessions. The full qualifying grid results with rows of three can be found on the event's official website.
Among Saturday's notable results, Helio Castroneves finished on Row 4 in 12th place and Pippa Mann finished on Row 10 in 30th place. Castroneves is a three-time race winner and royalty at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, while Mann's qualification came with some drama.
"The weather changed, the track got so much faster and by the time we realized, we were too far back in line," Mann said, per Robert General of the Indianapolis Star. "[There was] a lot of anxiety, a lot of helplessness, and I'm incredibly grateful this worked out the way it did. ... I'll sleep without waking up in a cold sweat and tomorrow, I'll be able to breathe."
Mann took a single run during Saturday's qualifications and believed her 227.244 mph would hold up throughout the course of the day. When she found herself on the bubble, it was too late to get back in line to re-qualify.
Fortunately for her and her team, she survived the qualification after being eliminated on Bump Day last year.
She, Castroneves and the rest of the field will be starting from behind Pagenaud after he captured the pole position for next Sunday's storied race.
