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| MONTH OF MAY - INDIANAPOLIS 500 2011 LIVE UPDATES |
THURSDAY, MAY 19 UPDATES
Thursday Photos
Thursday Schedule Highlights
Indy 500 Practice.
$10
Kids 12 and under free.
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. -- Gates Open
12 p.m. - 6 p.m. -- Practice
3:50 pm
Former CART and IndyCar team owner Derrick Walker seen hanging out
in the Conquest pit area a lot today. Hmmm...
Had first Jimmy Kite sighting today in the garage area. Wishing to see him
racing soon, not just visiting with friends while he's here.
Former IndyCar driver Scott Harrington is here today checking out the
action in the garage area. He's been doing some driver coaching and
manufacturer testing since he got out of the cockpit.
The Bell helmet Simona was wearing was damaged after her head
scraped the ground while she was sliding upside down, but it did her job,
as she has no head injury at all. Team busy in the garage area getting her
backup car ready.
Sports car champ Joey Hand and broadcaster Calvin Fish visiting in the
IMS Media Center now.
Journalist Bones Bourcier says to expect a new book on Bill Simpson
soon (wrote one on Simpson in 1999).
33 cars are at or above 223 mph as of right now - that could be our Bump
speed on Sunday.
ESPN Classic will present a week-long tribute in honor of the 100th
anniversary of the Indianapolis 500. The 2011 edition of "The Greatest
Spectacle in Racing" airs Sunday, May 29 on ABC, with pre-race at 11 AM
(ET). All week long beginning Monday, May 23, ESPN Classic will air
classic Indy 500 races and "Sports Century" programming. On the actual
100th anniversary, May 30, ESPN Classic will present a 27-hour marathon
anchored by a re-air of the 2011 race.
A fantastic day at the track got greatly enhanced this afternoon when I got
a nice hug from the Indy 500 champion Mario Andretti! I got to know him
after doing publicity and management work with the legendary Linda
Vaughn.
2:00 pm
'Bout 70 degrees already - woohoo!!
Three Indy 500 teams earned the final three spots in the IZOD Indy 500 Pit
Stop Challenge (contest to be held on Carb Day) during time trials this
morning. Teams changed four tires and performed a simulated fueling
hookup. The three qualifiers were: Tony Kanaan/KV Racing
Technology-Lotus; Mike Conway/Andretti Autosport; Helio
Castroneves/Team Penske. They will join the nine previously qualified
teams (based on previous pit stop performances), including: Takuma
Sato/KV Racing Technology-Lotus; Ryan Briscoe/Team Penske; Scott
Dixon/Target Chip Ganassi Racing; Dario Franchitti/Target Chip Ganassi
Racing; Will Power/Team Penske; Justin Wilson/Dreyer & Reinbold
Racing; Marco Andretti/Andretti Autosport; James
Hinchcliffe/Newman/Hass Racing; TBD/Dale Coyne Racing.
Senators Dick Lugar and Dan Coats announced the passage of a U.S.
Senate Resolution recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis
500. The resolution passed the Senate through unanimous consent May
18th.
Happy 38th Birthday to two-time and defending Indy 500 champ Dario
Franchitti!
1:45 pm
I think Tomas Scheckter's addicted to technology. He's got his iPad in his
race car, checking the times of the other drivers! Crazy!
Here's a YouTube link to a video of Simona's crash - wicked!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18pFE6cRHYw&feature=youtu.be
JR Hildebrand is showing why he's one of the best young talents in
open-wheel racing, posting 2nd-quick time early today at more than 226
mph!
1:00 pm
Simona de Silvestro crashed HARD into the turn 3 fence, flipping, catching
fire and tearing the fence down. She got out of her car with assistance
and walked to the ambulance. She will be transferred by ground to
Methodist Hospital for observation (got 2nd-degree burns on one hand,
and superficial burns on the other).
Have to expect that Simona's crash won't be the last of the day as teams
push extra hard to find speed for Pole Day on Saturday. This is the
strongest field in recent history, but - unfortunately - at least seven of
those strong contenders will have to go home after Bump Day on Sunday.
At this point, I couldn't venture a guess as to who they might be, but the
rookies at the track this week will have to work extra hard to learn this
unbelievably hard course in just a few days.
12 pm
Track opens to sunny/partly sunny skies and NO rain, for once. Temps
are much warmer, too. Should see a LOT of track activity today as teams
try to make up for three washed-out days this week. Thursday may be the
new Fast Friday!
Thursday Photos
Thursday Schedule Highlights
Indy 500 Practice.
$10
Kids 12 and under free.
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. -- Gates Open
12 p.m. - 6 p.m. -- Practice
3:50 pm
Former CART and IndyCar team owner Derrick Walker seen hanging out
in the Conquest pit area a lot today. Hmmm...
Had first Jimmy Kite sighting today in the garage area. Wishing to see him
racing soon, not just visiting with friends while he's here.
Former IndyCar driver Scott Harrington is here today checking out the
action in the garage area. He's been doing some driver coaching and
manufacturer testing since he got out of the cockpit.
The Bell helmet Simona was wearing was damaged after her head
scraped the ground while she was sliding upside down, but it did her job,
as she has no head injury at all. Team busy in the garage area getting her
backup car ready.
Sports car champ Joey Hand and broadcaster Calvin Fish visiting in the
IMS Media Center now.
Journalist Bones Bourcier says to expect a new book on Bill Simpson
soon (wrote one on Simpson in 1999).
33 cars are at or above 223 mph as of right now - that could be our Bump
speed on Sunday.
ESPN Classic will present a week-long tribute in honor of the 100th
anniversary of the Indianapolis 500. The 2011 edition of "The Greatest
Spectacle in Racing" airs Sunday, May 29 on ABC, with pre-race at 11 AM
(ET). All week long beginning Monday, May 23, ESPN Classic will air
classic Indy 500 races and "Sports Century" programming. On the actual
100th anniversary, May 30, ESPN Classic will present a 27-hour marathon
anchored by a re-air of the 2011 race.
A fantastic day at the track got greatly enhanced this afternoon when I got
a nice hug from the Indy 500 champion Mario Andretti! I got to know him
after doing publicity and management work with the legendary Linda
Vaughn.
2:00 pm
'Bout 70 degrees already - woohoo!!
Three Indy 500 teams earned the final three spots in the IZOD Indy 500 Pit
Stop Challenge (contest to be held on Carb Day) during time trials this
morning. Teams changed four tires and performed a simulated fueling
hookup. The three qualifiers were: Tony Kanaan/KV Racing
Technology-Lotus; Mike Conway/Andretti Autosport; Helio
Castroneves/Team Penske. They will join the nine previously qualified
teams (based on previous pit stop performances), including: Takuma
Sato/KV Racing Technology-Lotus; Ryan Briscoe/Team Penske; Scott
Dixon/Target Chip Ganassi Racing; Dario Franchitti/Target Chip Ganassi
Racing; Will Power/Team Penske; Justin Wilson/Dreyer & Reinbold
Racing; Marco Andretti/Andretti Autosport; James
Hinchcliffe/Newman/Hass Racing; TBD/Dale Coyne Racing.
Senators Dick Lugar and Dan Coats announced the passage of a U.S.
Senate Resolution recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis
500. The resolution passed the Senate through unanimous consent May
18th.
Happy 38th Birthday to two-time and defending Indy 500 champ Dario
Franchitti!
1:45 pm
I think Tomas Scheckter's addicted to technology. He's got his iPad in his
race car, checking the times of the other drivers! Crazy!
Here's a YouTube link to a video of Simona's crash - wicked!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18pFE6cRHYw&feature=youtu.be
JR Hildebrand is showing why he's one of the best young talents in
open-wheel racing, posting 2nd-quick time early today at more than 226
mph!
1:00 pm
Simona de Silvestro crashed HARD into the turn 3 fence, flipping, catching
fire and tearing the fence down. She got out of her car with assistance
and walked to the ambulance. She will be transferred by ground to
Methodist Hospital for observation (got 2nd-degree burns on one hand,
and superficial burns on the other).
Have to expect that Simona's crash won't be the last of the day as teams
push extra hard to find speed for Pole Day on Saturday. This is the
strongest field in recent history, but - unfortunately - at least seven of
those strong contenders will have to go home after Bump Day on Sunday.
At this point, I couldn't venture a guess as to who they might be, but the
rookies at the track this week will have to work extra hard to learn this
unbelievably hard course in just a few days.
12 pm
Track opens to sunny/partly sunny skies and NO rain, for once. Temps
are much warmer, too. Should see a LOT of track activity today as teams
try to make up for three washed-out days this week. Thursday may be the
new Fast Friday!