It’s been a practice filled week at the track, and so far there is wide variety in the Top 5 Fastest Drivers:
1) #3 Castroneves, Helio (Chevy) Practice 5, 227.166mph
2) #20 Carpenter, Ed (Chevy) Practice 5, 226.257mph
3) #77 Pagenaud, Simon (Honda) Practice 4, 226.122mph
4) #12 Power, Will (Chevy) Practice 5, 225.899mph
5) #21 Hildebrand, JR (Chevy) Practice 4, 225.854mph
Some of the best news to come out of IMS yesterday had nothing to do with speed. Medical officials for IndyCar have cleared #27 James Hinchcliffe to drive after the concussion he suffered during the Grand Prix of Indianapolis, which pulled him out of the race, and sent him to the hospital.
Today is Fast Friday on the oval, and all drivers get a boost in engine power in order to see how their cars are going to perform during Saturday and Sunday qualifying laps. An exciting new qualifying format for the Indianapolis 500 will debut this year. The 33-car field will be determined through traditional four-lap attempts during Saturday qualifying with the top nine cars advancing to a Fast Nine Shootout at 2 p.m. on Sunday with all of those competitors guaranteed to start no worse than ninth. Positions 10-33 will also be determined through additional qualifying runs on Sunday.
Here is the schedule for Saturday and Sunday. Be sure and let us know on Facebook if you’ll be attending any Indy 500 events, including qualification days.
Saturday, May 17 QUALIFYING DAY 1
($20 admission, 12 and under free)
7 a.m.-6 p.m., Public Gates Open
8:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m., Verizon IndyCar Series Group 1 Practice
8:30 a.m.-9 a.m., Verizon IndyCar Series Group 2 Practice, 500
Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard Begins
9 a.m.-10 a.m., Verizon IndyCar Series (All) Practice
10 a.m., Chevy Pin Distribution Begins – Pagoda Plaza
10:15 a.m., Qualifying Pre-Race Show, Pagoda Plaza
11:00 a.m.-5:50 p.m., Verizon IndyCar Series Qualifying
2 p.m., LIVE Concert, Pagoda Plaza Stage
Sunday, May 18 ARMED FORCES POLE DAY
($20 admission, 12 and under free)
7 a.m.-4 p.m., Public Gates Open
8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., Verizon IndyCar Series Practice
9:45 a.m., Enlistment Ceremony Begins – Plaza Stage
10:15 a.m., Verizon IndyCar Series Group 1 Qualifying Begins (Positions 10 – 30)
11 a.m. Rapid Fire Concert, Plaza Stage
12:15 p.m., American Dairy Pin Distribution Begins, Pagoda Plaza
12:45 p.m.-1:30 p.m., Verizon IndyCar Series Group 2 Qualifying Begins
(Positions 31 – 33)
2:00 p.m.-2:45 p.m., Verizon IndyCar Series Fast 9 Qualifying
3:00 p.m., Verizon Pole Award Celebration