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| MONTH OF MAY - INDIANAPOLIS 500 2011 LIVE UPDATES |
SUNDAY, MAY 22 UPDATES
ARMED FORCES DAY / BUMP DAY
Sunday Photos
Sunday/Armed Forces Day/Bump Day Schedule Highlights
$15
Kids 12 and under free.
8 a.m. - 6 p.m. -- Public Gates Open
9 a.m. -- Rapid Fire (Live Music/Coca-Cola Stage)
10 a.m. -- WIBC Pin Distribution (Plaza)
10:15 a.m. -- Enlistment Ceremony (Plaza)
10:45 a.m. -- Willy T. Ribbs Q&A (Plaza)
11:15 a.m. -- Willy T. Ribbs Autograph Session (Plaza)
Noon -- Qualifications Begin
Noon -- Blank Pages (Live Music/Coca-Cola Stage)
1 p.m. -- Bump Day Q&A (Plaza)
3:30 p.m. -- Bump Day Autograph Session (Plaza)
3:30 p.m. -- Living Proof (Live Music/Coca-Cola Stage)
6:15 pm
WOW! What a Bump Day this turned out to be! One of the best EVER!
Can I say it again...I LOVE this format!
Marco in, Danica in, and TWO Andretti Autosports cars out (Conway,
Hunter-Reay)! What drama on pit lane today! You could physically feel the
tension!
Stood in what I call the "vortex of drama" on pit lane during today's Bump
Day activities - right where last-second decisions were being made to run
for a qualifying time, pull a car's already qualified run and re-run, or pull a
car out of line in hopes that no one ahead of that driver will stick it in the
show, bumping that driver. It's a "vortex" because cars and teams are
constantly circling around you, pulling out of line and getting back into
line. It was crazy!
Not sure what to think about this, but Charlie Sheen was apparently at IMS
today, and LOVED the drama playing out (calling it "EPIC") - he was
tweeting about it, placing his support solidly behind Danica and Pippa
(two of the four women in the field - go figure). Of course, he wanted to
know where to go after qualifications for a good time in downtown Indy
(heard he ended up at "6"). Tweeted he'd be back at IMS for Race Day.
The ecstasy and agony of this day is so evident on the faces of those
team members and drivers who are intimately involved in this process. It's
easy to have opinions on what happens and decisions that are made out
on pit lane, but realize that there are many, many lives and careers on the
line during this one event - no decision is a light one. So many people end
up out of a job or a career based on what happens during the last hour of
Bump Day, it's heartbreaking, as they all have worked as hard as the 33
drivers and teams who are in the "show."
STARTING LINEUP FOR THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
INDIANAPOLIS 500-MILE RACE:
UPDATE: NEW STARTING LINEUP (after driver switch on 5/23/11)
4:00 pm
IMS officials say that, if the rain holds off, we'll go back to Bump Day
qualifying at around 4:45-5:00 pm.
Oooooh. Drama on Bump Day. With Danica sitting in her car ready to go
out and try to bump Alex Lloyd out of the field, the skies opened up again.
The sun is out now, but it's not clear.
The big issue (that no one has been able to clarify for me) is that every
driver in the line today - all non-qualified drivers - was guaranteed at least
one shot to qualify, either today, or on the next dry day. Danica would fit
the "next dry day" scenario had her team NOT field tech inspection - she
was scheduled to go out first today and would have qualified easily (after
running 226+mph laps this AM). Many people here believe that is her one
shot at qualifying that the track gave her, and her team let her down. I'm
thinking there's probably some way they can manipulate the rules to allow
her an actual qualifying effort. There's no one who doesn't want Danica in
the race because it would be the best thing for this track, this race, and
this all-important anniversary (but there ARE a few people that don't mind
seeing her sweat a bit - she's still getting boos on pit lane).
Looked at radar and it looks as if, once we get through this latest batch of
rain, there's a "window" of dry approaching IMS. Not sure if that will be
enough time to dry the track and get back to Bump Day qualifying.
Matos was first to be bumped, then Mike Conway (who had just qualified).
Alex Lloyd out of Dale Coyne's stable is next to be bumped. Coyne's
other driver, James Jakes, has yet to make the field.
The Dragon team has packed up and will not try to qualify after Ho-Pin
Tung crashed during qualifying yesterday, Scott Speed could not get up
to speed (and had a big tiff with his team members), and sub driver Patrick
Carpentier, in the car for the first time today, also crashed.
Bands are playing in the Plaza, and the crowd looks to be sticking around
for the end-of-day drama that is sure to take place if the rain goes away.
2:05 pm
IMS just announced that quals will re-start at 2:20 pm if no further rain
occurs. Yippee!
1:30 pm
First the downpour, then the sun came out and things were looking like
we might get some running in later, now it's raining again. Shoot.
This morning's top-5 practice speeds by unqualified drivers:
1) Charlie Kimball - 226.882
2) Danica Patrick - 226-252
3) Marco Andretti - 226.181
4) Graham Rahal - 226.066 (now qualified)
5) Paul Tracy - 225.781
Indianapolis 500 veteran Willy T. Ribbs served as the honorary starter for
today's Bump Day activities. This is the 20th anniversary of Ribbs
becoming the first African-American driver to qualify for the Indianapolis
500, in 1991. Ribbs announced May 12 that he has formed Willy T. Ribbs
Racing to field an entry for 21-year-old African-American driver Chase
Austin, starting in the Firestone Freedom 100 on Friday, May 27. The team
was created in partnership with Starting Grid Inc. principal Chris Miles.
Members of the Indianapolis 500 starting grid will disperse across the
United States and Canada on Monday for a media tour promoting the
100th Anniversary race. Drivers will visit these markets: Boston, Chicago,
Cincinnati, Columbus, Ohio, Dallas, Dayton, Ohio, Las Vegas, Louisville,
Ky., Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, Tenn., New York, Orlando, Fla., Tampa,
Fla., and Toronto.
12:45 pm
Was that a monsoon that just hit IMS? Felt like it standing on pit lane!
Never have seen it so dark at IMS as today.
Everyone knew it was coming, but we all just stood out there like idiots.
Finally, Mother Nature took care of our stupidity and gave us some scary
lightning, so we were told we HAD to clear out. Drivers and teams all
running and scattering to shelter, drivers not waiting for handlers with
their umbrellas - they just ran for it (or hid under the tarp covering their
cars).
Poor Ryan Briscoe, who hasn't qualified yet after yesterday morning's
crash. If that wasn't bad enough, he tried to run back to the garage area,
but couldn't because the rain was torrential, and got stuck with the fans
under the bridge between the pits and garage area. He didn't look too
happy at first (probably thinking...what am I doing here? I should be going
to the Front Row Party on Tuesday like I usually do), but ended up
laughing about it once a fan gave him an umbrella (team members, media,
TV, etc., all got stuck there - including me). Totally soaked right now.
15 minutes ago, we couldn't see across the track because of how heavy
the wind and rain were. Now, clear, blue skies and sunshine! Go figure -
it's May in Indiana!
So much rain puddling everywhere will make for a longer delay than
yesterday, which was relatively light compared to today's downpour! I
figure about 3 hours of clear weather and we might get back on track for
Bump Day qualifications. All part of the strategy of getting into this race -
weather always is one of the key factors in who makes the field, and who
tries to outwit the rain gods.
Ana Beatriz and Graham Rahal both completed their qualifying runs
before the rain. Rather, Bia did - Graham was allowed to finish his run
even though there was rain on the south end of the track (ugh...how fun
for him).
If today is a total washout, Bia and Graham will be locked into the field and
will be the 25th and 26th qualifiers. The rest of the teams/drivers in line will
be guaranteed one final shot either later today, or the first dry day after
today.
11:45 am
Here's who's in:
1) Alex Tagliani
2) Scott Dixon
3) Dario Franchitti
4) Dan Wheldon
5) Townsend Bell
6) Ed Carpenter
7) Will Power
8) Oriol Servia
9) Buddy Rice
10) Takuma Sato
11) Vitor Miera
12) JR Hildebrand
13) James Hinchcliffe
14) Bertrand Baguette
15) Davey Hamilton
16) Helio Castroneves
17) John Andretti
18) EJ Viso
19) Bruno Junqueira
20) Justin Wilson
21) Jay Howard
22) Tomas Scheckter
23) Tony Kanaan
24) Simona De Silvestro
Here's who must try to enter the field through Bump Day qualifications:
Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Danica Patrick, Pippa Mann, Graham
Rahal, Charlie Kimball, Mike Conway, Sebastian Saavedra, Ana Beatriz,
Paul Tracy, Raphael Matos, Alex Lloyd, James Jakes, Scott Speed, Ho-Pin
Tung, Ryan Briscoe
11:30 am
Forecast is getting gloomier by the minute. It's looking very dark and
stormy right now - rain is imminent.
There are a significant amount of potent cars/drivers who have yet to
qualify for this 100th anniversary race - namely, 4 Andretti Autosport cars.
They all practiced pretty strongly this morning, so maybe they've found
the problem.
The rule for Bump Day is that everyone who is lined up gets one
guaranteed shot to qualify, whether it's today or on the first dry day
should today be rained out.
9:30 am
Bump Day! One of my favorite days of the month - SO many stories yet to
be told.
Weather forecast looks quite 'iffy' for today - chance of showers all day
(and every day all week). Right now, it's hot and sunny for Armed Forces
Day.
Already had an incident during this morning's practice. Patrick
Carpentier, in the #20 Dragon Racing car formerly occupied by Scott
Speed, crashed trying to get the car up to speed quickly. He took his time
getting out of the car, was checked at the infield care center, and released
- cleared to drive. Not sure how this will play out this afternoon, as Speed
has been quoted as saying he believes he'll get the opportunity to qualify
the car.
ARMED FORCES DAY / BUMP DAY
Sunday Photos
Sunday/Armed Forces Day/Bump Day Schedule Highlights
$15
Kids 12 and under free.
8 a.m. - 6 p.m. -- Public Gates Open
9 a.m. -- Rapid Fire (Live Music/Coca-Cola Stage)
10 a.m. -- WIBC Pin Distribution (Plaza)
10:15 a.m. -- Enlistment Ceremony (Plaza)
10:45 a.m. -- Willy T. Ribbs Q&A (Plaza)
11:15 a.m. -- Willy T. Ribbs Autograph Session (Plaza)
Noon -- Qualifications Begin
Noon -- Blank Pages (Live Music/Coca-Cola Stage)
1 p.m. -- Bump Day Q&A (Plaza)
3:30 p.m. -- Bump Day Autograph Session (Plaza)
3:30 p.m. -- Living Proof (Live Music/Coca-Cola Stage)
6:15 pm
WOW! What a Bump Day this turned out to be! One of the best EVER!
Can I say it again...I LOVE this format!
Marco in, Danica in, and TWO Andretti Autosports cars out (Conway,
Hunter-Reay)! What drama on pit lane today! You could physically feel the
tension!
Stood in what I call the "vortex of drama" on pit lane during today's Bump
Day activities - right where last-second decisions were being made to run
for a qualifying time, pull a car's already qualified run and re-run, or pull a
car out of line in hopes that no one ahead of that driver will stick it in the
show, bumping that driver. It's a "vortex" because cars and teams are
constantly circling around you, pulling out of line and getting back into
line. It was crazy!
Not sure what to think about this, but Charlie Sheen was apparently at IMS
today, and LOVED the drama playing out (calling it "EPIC") - he was
tweeting about it, placing his support solidly behind Danica and Pippa
(two of the four women in the field - go figure). Of course, he wanted to
know where to go after qualifications for a good time in downtown Indy
(heard he ended up at "6"). Tweeted he'd be back at IMS for Race Day.
The ecstasy and agony of this day is so evident on the faces of those
team members and drivers who are intimately involved in this process. It's
easy to have opinions on what happens and decisions that are made out
on pit lane, but realize that there are many, many lives and careers on the
line during this one event - no decision is a light one. So many people end
up out of a job or a career based on what happens during the last hour of
Bump Day, it's heartbreaking, as they all have worked as hard as the 33
drivers and teams who are in the "show."
STARTING LINEUP FOR THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
INDIANAPOLIS 500-MILE RACE:
UPDATE: NEW STARTING LINEUP (after driver switch on 5/23/11)
4:00 pm
IMS officials say that, if the rain holds off, we'll go back to Bump Day
qualifying at around 4:45-5:00 pm.
Oooooh. Drama on Bump Day. With Danica sitting in her car ready to go
out and try to bump Alex Lloyd out of the field, the skies opened up again.
The sun is out now, but it's not clear.
The big issue (that no one has been able to clarify for me) is that every
driver in the line today - all non-qualified drivers - was guaranteed at least
one shot to qualify, either today, or on the next dry day. Danica would fit
the "next dry day" scenario had her team NOT field tech inspection - she
was scheduled to go out first today and would have qualified easily (after
running 226+mph laps this AM). Many people here believe that is her one
shot at qualifying that the track gave her, and her team let her down. I'm
thinking there's probably some way they can manipulate the rules to allow
her an actual qualifying effort. There's no one who doesn't want Danica in
the race because it would be the best thing for this track, this race, and
this all-important anniversary (but there ARE a few people that don't mind
seeing her sweat a bit - she's still getting boos on pit lane).
Looked at radar and it looks as if, once we get through this latest batch of
rain, there's a "window" of dry approaching IMS. Not sure if that will be
enough time to dry the track and get back to Bump Day qualifying.
Matos was first to be bumped, then Mike Conway (who had just qualified).
Alex Lloyd out of Dale Coyne's stable is next to be bumped. Coyne's
other driver, James Jakes, has yet to make the field.
The Dragon team has packed up and will not try to qualify after Ho-Pin
Tung crashed during qualifying yesterday, Scott Speed could not get up
to speed (and had a big tiff with his team members), and sub driver Patrick
Carpentier, in the car for the first time today, also crashed.
Bands are playing in the Plaza, and the crowd looks to be sticking around
for the end-of-day drama that is sure to take place if the rain goes away.
2:05 pm
IMS just announced that quals will re-start at 2:20 pm if no further rain
occurs. Yippee!
1:30 pm
First the downpour, then the sun came out and things were looking like
we might get some running in later, now it's raining again. Shoot.
This morning's top-5 practice speeds by unqualified drivers:
1) Charlie Kimball - 226.882
2) Danica Patrick - 226-252
3) Marco Andretti - 226.181
4) Graham Rahal - 226.066 (now qualified)
5) Paul Tracy - 225.781
Indianapolis 500 veteran Willy T. Ribbs served as the honorary starter for
today's Bump Day activities. This is the 20th anniversary of Ribbs
becoming the first African-American driver to qualify for the Indianapolis
500, in 1991. Ribbs announced May 12 that he has formed Willy T. Ribbs
Racing to field an entry for 21-year-old African-American driver Chase
Austin, starting in the Firestone Freedom 100 on Friday, May 27. The team
was created in partnership with Starting Grid Inc. principal Chris Miles.
Members of the Indianapolis 500 starting grid will disperse across the
United States and Canada on Monday for a media tour promoting the
100th Anniversary race. Drivers will visit these markets: Boston, Chicago,
Cincinnati, Columbus, Ohio, Dallas, Dayton, Ohio, Las Vegas, Louisville,
Ky., Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, Tenn., New York, Orlando, Fla., Tampa,
Fla., and Toronto.
12:45 pm
Was that a monsoon that just hit IMS? Felt like it standing on pit lane!
Never have seen it so dark at IMS as today.
Everyone knew it was coming, but we all just stood out there like idiots.
Finally, Mother Nature took care of our stupidity and gave us some scary
lightning, so we were told we HAD to clear out. Drivers and teams all
running and scattering to shelter, drivers not waiting for handlers with
their umbrellas - they just ran for it (or hid under the tarp covering their
cars).
Poor Ryan Briscoe, who hasn't qualified yet after yesterday morning's
crash. If that wasn't bad enough, he tried to run back to the garage area,
but couldn't because the rain was torrential, and got stuck with the fans
under the bridge between the pits and garage area. He didn't look too
happy at first (probably thinking...what am I doing here? I should be going
to the Front Row Party on Tuesday like I usually do), but ended up
laughing about it once a fan gave him an umbrella (team members, media,
TV, etc., all got stuck there - including me). Totally soaked right now.
15 minutes ago, we couldn't see across the track because of how heavy
the wind and rain were. Now, clear, blue skies and sunshine! Go figure -
it's May in Indiana!
So much rain puddling everywhere will make for a longer delay than
yesterday, which was relatively light compared to today's downpour! I
figure about 3 hours of clear weather and we might get back on track for
Bump Day qualifications. All part of the strategy of getting into this race -
weather always is one of the key factors in who makes the field, and who
tries to outwit the rain gods.
Ana Beatriz and Graham Rahal both completed their qualifying runs
before the rain. Rather, Bia did - Graham was allowed to finish his run
even though there was rain on the south end of the track (ugh...how fun
for him).
If today is a total washout, Bia and Graham will be locked into the field and
will be the 25th and 26th qualifiers. The rest of the teams/drivers in line will
be guaranteed one final shot either later today, or the first dry day after
today.
11:45 am
Here's who's in:
1) Alex Tagliani
2) Scott Dixon
3) Dario Franchitti
4) Dan Wheldon
5) Townsend Bell
6) Ed Carpenter
7) Will Power
8) Oriol Servia
9) Buddy Rice
10) Takuma Sato
11) Vitor Miera
12) JR Hildebrand
13) James Hinchcliffe
14) Bertrand Baguette
15) Davey Hamilton
16) Helio Castroneves
17) John Andretti
18) EJ Viso
19) Bruno Junqueira
20) Justin Wilson
21) Jay Howard
22) Tomas Scheckter
23) Tony Kanaan
24) Simona De Silvestro
Here's who must try to enter the field through Bump Day qualifications:
Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Danica Patrick, Pippa Mann, Graham
Rahal, Charlie Kimball, Mike Conway, Sebastian Saavedra, Ana Beatriz,
Paul Tracy, Raphael Matos, Alex Lloyd, James Jakes, Scott Speed, Ho-Pin
Tung, Ryan Briscoe
11:30 am
Forecast is getting gloomier by the minute. It's looking very dark and
stormy right now - rain is imminent.
There are a significant amount of potent cars/drivers who have yet to
qualify for this 100th anniversary race - namely, 4 Andretti Autosport cars.
They all practiced pretty strongly this morning, so maybe they've found
the problem.
The rule for Bump Day is that everyone who is lined up gets one
guaranteed shot to qualify, whether it's today or on the first dry day
should today be rained out.
9:30 am
Bump Day! One of my favorite days of the month - SO many stories yet to
be told.
Weather forecast looks quite 'iffy' for today - chance of showers all day
(and every day all week). Right now, it's hot and sunny for Armed Forces
Day.
Already had an incident during this morning's practice. Patrick
Carpentier, in the #20 Dragon Racing car formerly occupied by Scott
Speed, crashed trying to get the car up to speed quickly. He took his time
getting out of the car, was checked at the infield care center, and released
- cleared to drive. Not sure how this will play out this afternoon, as Speed
has been quoted as saying he believes he'll get the opportunity to qualify
the car.