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| MONTH OF MAY - INDIANAPOLIS 500 2011 LIVE UPDATES |
FRIDAY, MAY 27 UPDATES
CARB DAY / FREEDOM 100 / PIT STOP COMPETITION
100th ANNIVERSARY INDIANAPOLIS 500
STARTING LINEUP (revised 5/23)
Friday Photos
Friday/Miller Lite Carb Day/Firestone Freedom 100/IZOD Indy 500 Pit Stop
Challenge Schedule Highlights
$20
Kids 12 and under free.
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. -- Indy 500 Final Practice
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. -- Firestone Freedom 100 (Firestone Indy Lights)
1:35 p.m. - 3 p.m. -- IZOD Performance Pit Stop Competition
3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Staind & Papa Roach
5:00 pm
Attended Indy 500 Media Day yesterday and tried to interview as many of
the starting lineup as possible. Will add more later, but here's a few tidbits:
I asked all of the former winners (except Buddy Rice - ran out of time) one
simple question: What do you know for SURE about the Indy 500?
Dario Franchitti: "That milk tastes good after a win. I haven't discovered a
feeling as good as winning this race." Then he relayed that the track
actually asks all qualified drivers what type of milk they prefer (showed me
the recent e-mail he got) - whole, 2% or skim. He said he doesn't have a
preference, adding, "It could be 25-year-old yak milk, and it would still
taste great." Ha!
Dan Wheldon: "How good the milk tastes."
Scott Dixon: "Nothing. Every race is different. Take out any precursors
you might have of this event. Some things help in strategy. But you can't
take anything for granted, because you'll get into trouble really fast if you
do."
Helio Castroneves: "I know that it will be tough. I know that it will be the
most difficult race of my year. I know that it will be difficult to predict. I
know that I'm going to work four times as hard to win it."
Other thoughts by Helio, who could make history as the first five-time
Indianapolis 500 winner on Sunday:
On possibly winning his fifth Indy 500: "It would be a dream come true,
and a really great way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of this race."
About a mid-pack starting spot: "When starting at the back of this race,
it's more important to have experience, as you'll get in a lot of trouble if
you get to anxious right off of the bat and try to make too many things
happen."
When asked about the recent online poll naming Tomas Scheckter as the
"Sexiest IndyCar Driver," Helio said, "I have no vote for him at all!"
Asked what he does the night before the race: "I have dinner with Roger
(Penske), then say a little prayer for all of the drivers and myself."
Other thoughts by Dario, who could rack up his third Indy 500 victory on
Sunday:
About whether he can sleep the night before the Indy 500:
"I don't have a problem with getting to sleep, it's the getting up that I have
a problem with, as many people know."
Other thoughts by Scott Dixon:
"The race is going to be a lot more spread out, with talent all the way
through the field."
On who he thinks will be strong contenders on Sunday:
"Oriol, Alex of course is quick, Will, Helio, Dario - it's a hellofa mix, which
will make for a great race. A sleeper can actually win it."
On the dreaded (by most drivers) double-file starts/restarts:
"It's a great chance to have a disaster. This place is so difficult. They'll
have to clean all four corners each caution, adding laps under yellow.
Dario is totally opposed to double-file restarts. There's a lot of competitive
cars on big teams that are starting in back, which will help. But there's
also a lot of new drivers who don't know what not having downforce is
back there, which could cause a problem."
4:00 pm
Was tweeting throughout the Indy Lights race (@JanieVogel) and didn't
have information a lot of the times on certain drivers who were in
crashes. Here's a medical update for everyone involved in incidents
during that race:
Victor Carbone - evaluated, released without injury, and cleared to drive.
Brandon Wagner, James Winslow, Juan Pablo Garcia and Anders Krohn -
evaluated, released without injury and cleared to drive.
Gustavo Yacaman - transported via ground to IU Health Methodist for
further evaluation of neck pain. He is awake and alert.
Jorge Goncalvez - transported via ground to IU Health Methodist for
further evaluation. He is awake and alert.
No further updates have been provided at this time.
3:30 pm
Team Penske with driver Ryan Briscoe just won the IZOD Performance Pit
Stop Competition in a standoff with Target Chip Ganassi Racing's #10
Dario Franchitti team, with the team receiving a $50,000 prize!
Congratulations Team Penske!
Many-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force was in the Indy Light
pit area this afternoon.
Turned around at a Ganassi Press Conference announcing them aligning
themselves with Honda next year (vs. Penske's alliance with Chevy) to see
the legendary Don Prudhomme standing behind me (decked out in
Ganassi gear).
Was so excited to see a USAC Sprint car on pit lane this afternoon before
the Indy Lights race. The name on it said Levi Jones (who drives the car
for Tony Stewart Racing), but it wasn't Levi in the cockpit. It was
pavement ace Michael Lewis, who told me that Levi did not want to drive
the car here at IMS...really? Seems to me to be a bit of a slap in the face to
the INDYCAR Series which initiated contact with Jones to see what they
can do to get him in an IndyCar at some point. If you turn down an offer to
drive a car which you are totally comfortable with (at somewhat slow
speeds), why should they put in any effort to get you into an IndyCar in
the future? Michael Lewis was certainly happy to take Jones' place,
saying that this opportunity might be the only time he'll get to run a race
car around this legendary oval, and he's taking it! Did a great job!
Loved the comment by Indy 500 champ Johnny Rutherford, who was
driving the Indy 500 Official Pace Car by Lewis and the Sprint car, slowed
down and smiled, saying, "Now that's a REAL race car." Love it.
Big crowd and a lot of attention for USAC's National Driving Champion,
Bryan Clauson, who inherited the Pole for the Indy Lights race after the
field was set on owner's points. Conor Daly actually has driven that car
for all of the races earlier in the season (all road courses), but since
Clauson is in the car for all ovals, he got the opportunity today. And did a
great job, avoiding a lot of crashes and mistakes by others around him,
bringing the car home in 5th. Congratulations Bryan!
Great crowd here today, despite cold and damp weather!
Looks like, despite the un-spring-like weather today, the "Hoosier 100"
USAC Silver Crown race is a go for tonight at the Indiana State
Fairgrounds!
Today, as well as for the next few days, the images of the Indy 500 will be
priority, as sometimes, there's just no way to explain in words what being
at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis 500 is like.
Pictures do a much better job of that.
3:00 pm
Results Friday of the Firestone Freedom 100 Firestone Indy Lights event
on the 2.5 mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with order of finish, starting
position in parentheses, driver, laps complete and reason out (if any):
1. (2) Josef Newgarden, 40, Running
2. (5) Esteban Guerrieri, 40, Running
3. (4) Victor Garcia, 40, Running
4. (3) Stefan Wilson, 40, Running
5. (1) Bryan Clauson, 40, Running
6. (6) Peter Dempsey, 40, Running
7. (16) Rusty Mitchell, 40, Running
8. (9) David Ostella, 40, Running
9. (17) Chase Austin, 40, Running
10. (7) Mikael Grenier, 40, Running
11. (10) Jorge Goncalvez, 34, Contact
12. (8) Anders Krohn, 34, Contact
13. (14) Duarte Ferreira, 29, Contact
14. (18) Brandon Wagner, 28, Contact
15. (12) Gustavo Yacaman, 20, Contact
16. (15) Juan Pablo Garcia, 20, Contact
17. (11) James Winslow, 20, Contact
18. (13) Victor Carbone, 7, Contact
Race Statistics
Winner's Average Speed: 107.817
Time of Race: 55:38.9881
Margin of victory: Under caution
Cautions: 4 for 22 laps
Lead changes: 6 among 4 drivers
Lap Leaders: Newgarden 1-2, Wilson 3, Newgarden 4, Krohn 5-11,
Newgarden 12, Guerrieri 13-14, Newgarden 15-40.
Point Standings: Newgarden 149, Guerrieri 125, V. Garcia 121, Wilson 121,
Dempsey 111, Conor Daly 109, Grenier 102, Ostella 95, Krohn 94,
Goncalvez 90.
11:30 am
Too much outside track activity to sit at a computer today - will get things
updated here with photos and updates a bit later.
10:15 am
Honda announces Target Chip Ganassi Racing as their "anchor"/test
team for new engine cycle. Well...the rich get richer.
William Rast announces partnership with Danica Patrick, who will endorse
William Rast Eyewear and Racing Eyewear.
Firestone Indy Lights cars now taking laps on a dry track!
9:30 am
Welcome to Carb Day for the 100th Anniversary of the Indy 500!
Driver's meeting is taking place for this morning's final one-hour practice
for Sunday's race.
Waiting on a press conference by William Rast (Dan Wheldon's sponsor)
and Danica Patrick - hmmm...
Weather is just yucky this morning (I've made "yucky" an official
meteorological term this month). Cold and drizzly - track driers are out,
once again. Weather supposedly getting better by mid-day - mid-60s
temperature. Rest of weekend looks great, though, with Sunday near 90
degrees and sunny! Finally!
Traffic getting into track this AM was horrendous! 'Bout an hour for me
once I got close to Georgetown Road. Great for IMS; not so great for me,
who was hoping to get here earlier.
Felt very bad for all of the campers who had to endure temps last night in
the 40s (I visited with some Camp & Brew folks for a while, but gave up
much earlier than usual - way too cold).
Firestone Indy Lights practice, scheduled for 9:00 am, is delayed to about
9:45 due to a wet track. IndyCar final practice should be on schedule at
11:00 am.
Carb Day concert later on today after Pit Stop Competition - Staind and
Papa Roach!
CARB DAY / FREEDOM 100 / PIT STOP COMPETITION
100th ANNIVERSARY INDIANAPOLIS 500
STARTING LINEUP (revised 5/23)
Friday Photos
Friday/Miller Lite Carb Day/Firestone Freedom 100/IZOD Indy 500 Pit Stop
Challenge Schedule Highlights
$20
Kids 12 and under free.
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. -- Indy 500 Final Practice
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. -- Firestone Freedom 100 (Firestone Indy Lights)
1:35 p.m. - 3 p.m. -- IZOD Performance Pit Stop Competition
3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Staind & Papa Roach
5:00 pm
Attended Indy 500 Media Day yesterday and tried to interview as many of
the starting lineup as possible. Will add more later, but here's a few tidbits:
I asked all of the former winners (except Buddy Rice - ran out of time) one
simple question: What do you know for SURE about the Indy 500?
Dario Franchitti: "That milk tastes good after a win. I haven't discovered a
feeling as good as winning this race." Then he relayed that the track
actually asks all qualified drivers what type of milk they prefer (showed me
the recent e-mail he got) - whole, 2% or skim. He said he doesn't have a
preference, adding, "It could be 25-year-old yak milk, and it would still
taste great." Ha!
Dan Wheldon: "How good the milk tastes."
Scott Dixon: "Nothing. Every race is different. Take out any precursors
you might have of this event. Some things help in strategy. But you can't
take anything for granted, because you'll get into trouble really fast if you
do."
Helio Castroneves: "I know that it will be tough. I know that it will be the
most difficult race of my year. I know that it will be difficult to predict. I
know that I'm going to work four times as hard to win it."
Other thoughts by Helio, who could make history as the first five-time
Indianapolis 500 winner on Sunday:
On possibly winning his fifth Indy 500: "It would be a dream come true,
and a really great way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of this race."
About a mid-pack starting spot: "When starting at the back of this race,
it's more important to have experience, as you'll get in a lot of trouble if
you get to anxious right off of the bat and try to make too many things
happen."
When asked about the recent online poll naming Tomas Scheckter as the
"Sexiest IndyCar Driver," Helio said, "I have no vote for him at all!"
Asked what he does the night before the race: "I have dinner with Roger
(Penske), then say a little prayer for all of the drivers and myself."
Other thoughts by Dario, who could rack up his third Indy 500 victory on
Sunday:
About whether he can sleep the night before the Indy 500:
"I don't have a problem with getting to sleep, it's the getting up that I have
a problem with, as many people know."
Other thoughts by Scott Dixon:
"The race is going to be a lot more spread out, with talent all the way
through the field."
On who he thinks will be strong contenders on Sunday:
"Oriol, Alex of course is quick, Will, Helio, Dario - it's a hellofa mix, which
will make for a great race. A sleeper can actually win it."
On the dreaded (by most drivers) double-file starts/restarts:
"It's a great chance to have a disaster. This place is so difficult. They'll
have to clean all four corners each caution, adding laps under yellow.
Dario is totally opposed to double-file restarts. There's a lot of competitive
cars on big teams that are starting in back, which will help. But there's
also a lot of new drivers who don't know what not having downforce is
back there, which could cause a problem."
4:00 pm
Was tweeting throughout the Indy Lights race (@JanieVogel) and didn't
have information a lot of the times on certain drivers who were in
crashes. Here's a medical update for everyone involved in incidents
during that race:
Victor Carbone - evaluated, released without injury, and cleared to drive.
Brandon Wagner, James Winslow, Juan Pablo Garcia and Anders Krohn -
evaluated, released without injury and cleared to drive.
Gustavo Yacaman - transported via ground to IU Health Methodist for
further evaluation of neck pain. He is awake and alert.
Jorge Goncalvez - transported via ground to IU Health Methodist for
further evaluation. He is awake and alert.
No further updates have been provided at this time.
3:30 pm
Team Penske with driver Ryan Briscoe just won the IZOD Performance Pit
Stop Competition in a standoff with Target Chip Ganassi Racing's #10
Dario Franchitti team, with the team receiving a $50,000 prize!
Congratulations Team Penske!
Many-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force was in the Indy Light
pit area this afternoon.
Turned around at a Ganassi Press Conference announcing them aligning
themselves with Honda next year (vs. Penske's alliance with Chevy) to see
the legendary Don Prudhomme standing behind me (decked out in
Ganassi gear).
Was so excited to see a USAC Sprint car on pit lane this afternoon before
the Indy Lights race. The name on it said Levi Jones (who drives the car
for Tony Stewart Racing), but it wasn't Levi in the cockpit. It was
pavement ace Michael Lewis, who told me that Levi did not want to drive
the car here at IMS...really? Seems to me to be a bit of a slap in the face to
the INDYCAR Series which initiated contact with Jones to see what they
can do to get him in an IndyCar at some point. If you turn down an offer to
drive a car which you are totally comfortable with (at somewhat slow
speeds), why should they put in any effort to get you into an IndyCar in
the future? Michael Lewis was certainly happy to take Jones' place,
saying that this opportunity might be the only time he'll get to run a race
car around this legendary oval, and he's taking it! Did a great job!
Loved the comment by Indy 500 champ Johnny Rutherford, who was
driving the Indy 500 Official Pace Car by Lewis and the Sprint car, slowed
down and smiled, saying, "Now that's a REAL race car." Love it.
Big crowd and a lot of attention for USAC's National Driving Champion,
Bryan Clauson, who inherited the Pole for the Indy Lights race after the
field was set on owner's points. Conor Daly actually has driven that car
for all of the races earlier in the season (all road courses), but since
Clauson is in the car for all ovals, he got the opportunity today. And did a
great job, avoiding a lot of crashes and mistakes by others around him,
bringing the car home in 5th. Congratulations Bryan!
Great crowd here today, despite cold and damp weather!
Looks like, despite the un-spring-like weather today, the "Hoosier 100"
USAC Silver Crown race is a go for tonight at the Indiana State
Fairgrounds!
Today, as well as for the next few days, the images of the Indy 500 will be
priority, as sometimes, there's just no way to explain in words what being
at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis 500 is like.
Pictures do a much better job of that.
3:00 pm
Results Friday of the Firestone Freedom 100 Firestone Indy Lights event
on the 2.5 mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with order of finish, starting
position in parentheses, driver, laps complete and reason out (if any):
1. (2) Josef Newgarden, 40, Running
2. (5) Esteban Guerrieri, 40, Running
3. (4) Victor Garcia, 40, Running
4. (3) Stefan Wilson, 40, Running
5. (1) Bryan Clauson, 40, Running
6. (6) Peter Dempsey, 40, Running
7. (16) Rusty Mitchell, 40, Running
8. (9) David Ostella, 40, Running
9. (17) Chase Austin, 40, Running
10. (7) Mikael Grenier, 40, Running
11. (10) Jorge Goncalvez, 34, Contact
12. (8) Anders Krohn, 34, Contact
13. (14) Duarte Ferreira, 29, Contact
14. (18) Brandon Wagner, 28, Contact
15. (12) Gustavo Yacaman, 20, Contact
16. (15) Juan Pablo Garcia, 20, Contact
17. (11) James Winslow, 20, Contact
18. (13) Victor Carbone, 7, Contact
Race Statistics
Winner's Average Speed: 107.817
Time of Race: 55:38.9881
Margin of victory: Under caution
Cautions: 4 for 22 laps
Lead changes: 6 among 4 drivers
Lap Leaders: Newgarden 1-2, Wilson 3, Newgarden 4, Krohn 5-11,
Newgarden 12, Guerrieri 13-14, Newgarden 15-40.
Point Standings: Newgarden 149, Guerrieri 125, V. Garcia 121, Wilson 121,
Dempsey 111, Conor Daly 109, Grenier 102, Ostella 95, Krohn 94,
Goncalvez 90.
11:30 am
Too much outside track activity to sit at a computer today - will get things
updated here with photos and updates a bit later.
10:15 am
Honda announces Target Chip Ganassi Racing as their "anchor"/test
team for new engine cycle. Well...the rich get richer.
William Rast announces partnership with Danica Patrick, who will endorse
William Rast Eyewear and Racing Eyewear.
Firestone Indy Lights cars now taking laps on a dry track!
9:30 am
Welcome to Carb Day for the 100th Anniversary of the Indy 500!
Driver's meeting is taking place for this morning's final one-hour practice
for Sunday's race.
Waiting on a press conference by William Rast (Dan Wheldon's sponsor)
and Danica Patrick - hmmm...
Weather is just yucky this morning (I've made "yucky" an official
meteorological term this month). Cold and drizzly - track driers are out,
once again. Weather supposedly getting better by mid-day - mid-60s
temperature. Rest of weekend looks great, though, with Sunday near 90
degrees and sunny! Finally!
Traffic getting into track this AM was horrendous! 'Bout an hour for me
once I got close to Georgetown Road. Great for IMS; not so great for me,
who was hoping to get here earlier.
Felt very bad for all of the campers who had to endure temps last night in
the 40s (I visited with some Camp & Brew folks for a while, but gave up
much earlier than usual - way too cold).
Firestone Indy Lights practice, scheduled for 9:00 am, is delayed to about
9:45 due to a wet track. IndyCar final practice should be on schedule at
11:00 am.
Carb Day concert later on today after Pit Stop Competition - Staind and
Papa Roach!