96th Indianapolis 500

Don't know if anyone noticed, but Dragon Racing. Both drivers were supposed to participate in the ROP, Legge being a rookie and Bourdais as a refresher, but they currently have no manufacturer since leaving Lotus. I think Bourdais is okay since he has run Indy before, but if Legge, along with Alesi, cannot complete the first two phases of rookie testing by May 13, they will not be allowed to race. Phase I is 10 laps at 200-205 MPH. Phase II is 15 laps at 205-210 MPH. Phase III is 15 laps at 210 MPH and over. Phase III may be completed at any time.

Am I the only one that's somewhat concerned about this idea? http://www.racer.com/indycar-raises-turbo-boost-for-indy-qualifying/article/240628/

Apparently Dario Franchitti's number will be 50 JUST FOR THIS RACE.
Anyways, Josef Newgraden was fastest in the 1st official Indy 500 Practice. No incidents that ive heard of.

Jean Alesi hit 209 in Practice and 26 cars took time.

RealRacer4 wrote:Am I the only one that's somewhat concerned about this idea? http://www.racer.com/indycar-raises-turbo-boost-for-indy-qualifying/article/240628/

Indy's more wide then Vegas. Don't worry about it.

Alta wrote:

RealRacer4 wrote:Am I the only one that's somewhat concerned about this idea? http://www.racer.com/indycar-raises-turbo-boost-for-indy-qualifying/article/240628/

Indy's more wide then Vegas. Don't worry about it.

And Flatter... plus speeds are down a bit from last year.

It's not like they're actually going to use that much boost during the race. Although it's only for a few laps, the reason I said I was concerned is because of the reliability issues that have been dealt with from the engines this year, especially for Lotus.

AntmanB wrote:Apparently Dario Franchitti's number will be 50 JUST FOR THIS RACE.

It's for Target's 50th anniversary.

flyingturns89 wrote:

AntmanB wrote:Apparently Dario Franchitti's number will be 50 JUST FOR THIS RACE.

It's for Target's 50th anniversary.

Heh, go figure. Target and Walmart both have their 50th anniversaries within a short span of each other.

AntmanB wrote:Jean Alesi hit 209 in Practice and 26 cars took time.

Don't know if he cmpleted the phases though. He didn't do Phase III, cause he was too slow. If he had 10 laps at 200-205, which I hope he did by now, Phase I is done. Might have Phase II done, but that's 15 laps at 205-210, and I think you have to complete Phase I before you start Phase II, so he might have to work on that still, but it could be worse.

Some updates on practice for today. After two of the six hours, Justin Wilson and James Jakes set a Dale Coyne 1-2 in this practice, with Wilson setting the fastest lap this year so far at a 220.520 MPH. Wade Cunningham completed Phase III of the rookie program and has officially completed it. This leaves only Sebastien Bourdais, Katherine Legge, and Jean Alesi to complete it. Bourdais and Legge are still not at the track yet, and Alesi is currently on a fastest lap of 204.860 today.

I doubt that we'll ever see Dragon at Indy- an probably every other track this year.

RandomClassic wrote:

flyingturns89 wrote:

AntmanB wrote:Apparently Dario Franchitti's number will be 50 JUST FOR THIS RACE.

It's for Target's 50th anniversary.

Heh, go figure. Target and Walmart both have their 50th anniversaries within a short span of each other.

Kmart's 50th is this year, as well.

Alpineopossum wrote:I doubt that we'll ever see Dragon at Indy- an probably every other track this year.

Rumor has it that they are getting their Chevy Engines next week, Bourdias will easily complete it, Legge as well.

Practice has ended for the day. Sebastian Saavedra was fastest with a 221.526 MPH. This is very important because there was a $5,000 bonus to the fastest car of the day today.

flyingturns89 wrote:Practice has ended for the day. Sebastian Saavedra was fastest with a 221.526 MPH. This is very important because there was a $5,000 bonus to the fastest car of the day today.

Interesting names leading the practice sessions so far.

and no incidents so far. That i know of.

20 minutes left today. 222+ MPH hit today, and Alesi completed the rookie program. So as long as Dragon Racing shows, we will have a full field for Indy.

flyingturns89 wrote:20 minutes left today. 222+ MPH hit today, and Alesi completed the rookie program. So as long as Dragon Racing shows, we will have a full field for Indy.

Like i said, They're just waiting on engines. We will have full field as Bourdias is fast and Legge isn't to terrible.

Alta wrote:

flyingturns89 wrote:20 minutes left today. 222+ MPH hit today, and Alesi completed the rookie program. So as long as Dragon Racing shows, we will have a full field for Indy.

Like i said, They're just waiting on engines. We will have full field as Bourdias is fast and Legge isn't to terrible.

Can't believe that Bourdais was hampered because of the Lotus trash. You know you got talent when you can take a Lotus engine and finish in the top-10 with it. But then again, Bourdais has won how many championships?

Chives2112 wrote:

Alta wrote:

flyingturns89 wrote:20 minutes left today. 222+ MPH hit today, and Alesi completed the rookie program. So as long as Dragon Racing shows, we will have a full field for Indy.

Like i said, They're just waiting on engines. We will have full field as Bourdias is fast and Legge isn't to terrible.

Can't believe that Bourdais was hampered because of the Lotus trash. You know you got talent when you can take a Lotus engine and finish in the top-10 with it. But then again, Bourdais has won how many championships?

5 in a row i believe, Didn't need the chase to do it either.

4 in a row CCWS titles. He obviously didn't need the chase, not like that era of Champ Car was strong anyway. He pretty much only had to beat Wilson, Allmendinger, Junky, and Power. PT was herping too much to be a threat.

Still an awesome feat, and Bourdais is still underrated. Won an IROC race at Texas against the NASCAR boys. Him with a Chevy on a road course later in the season should be awesome.

If Indy Car modifies the side pods, get rid of that rear bumper, and the airbox, everything will be alright in this world.

Marco just ran a 223.676! He did have a tow, however.

James Jakes ran 100 laps today.

I heard Katherine Legge left the track in tears yesterday. I think it had to do with Dragon losing their engine provider but I'm not sure.

Noooo...guess that means no Legge at the 500?

PKligBKFan wrote:I heard Katherine Legge left the track in tears yesterday. I think it had to do with Dragon losing their engine provider but I'm not sure.

That's really too bad. I would've loved to see how she'd do with a Chevy engine. What I've been hearing all morning is that Dragon has one Chevy engine that will be given to Bourdais. This leaves Legge on the outside.

This would leave us with 32 cars again. Legge has full sponsorship, so this could possibly get her a ride in one of the teams with a spare car. Ed Carpenter still has his second car in the garage, and apparently HVM has a second. This is screwed up right now.

Practice 5 ends following the first crash of the month. Josef Newgarden spins and taps the wall. He was fastest in the session. Some notes:

1,632 laps were completed.
30 driver made laps. Only James Jakes did not, but he ran 100 laps yesterday.
Rubens Barrichello ran 114 laps today, the most of anyone.

JMac525 wrote:

PKligBKFan wrote:I heard Katherine Legge left the track in tears yesterday. I think it had to do with Dragon losing their engine provider but I'm not sure.

That's really too bad. I would've loved to see how she'd do with a Chevy engine. What I've been hearing all morning is that Dragon has one Chevy engine that will be given to Bourdais. This leaves Legge on the outside.

This would leave us with 32 cars again. Legge has full sponsorship, so this could possibly get her a ride in one of the teams with a spare car. Ed Carpenter still has his second car in the garage, and apparently HVM has a second. This is screwed up right now.

I'm positive one of these teams will pull strings for Katherine. Will be interesting to see what happens.

PKligBKFan wrote:I heard Katherine Legge left the track in tears yesterday. I think it had to do with Dragon losing their engine provider but I'm not sure.

There goes are 1 garunteed caution.

f1fan12 wrote:

PKligBKFan wrote:I heard Katherine Legge left the track in tears yesterday. I think it had to do with Dragon losing their engine provider but I'm not sure.

There goes are 1 garunteed caution.

Katherine Legge isn't a crasher. She's off the pace, not wreckless.

Yeah, cause it's not like she's brought out a caution every race this season. /sarcasm

Both Bourdais and Legge went out on track this morning for Rookie Orientation and the refresher course.

JMac525 wrote:Both Bourdais and Legge went out on track this morning for Rookie Orientation and the refresher course.

All those tears for nothing?

Alta wrote:

JMac525 wrote:Both Bourdais and Legge went out on track this morning for Rookie Orientation and the refresher course.

All those tears for nothing?

I guess so, now.

She wasn't able to pass Phase II of Rookie Orientation this morning, so she is doing it after practice ends today. However, the car was barely faster than the Lotus's earlier. Bourdais said the car was absolutely horrible when he was warming it up.

So the turbo boosts were turned up to the same amount that they've run on the road courses all year today and without the draft help, Ryan Hunter-Reay has the fastest speed of 226 MPH!

And a few months ago, most of us (including myself) didn't think those guys will get up to those speeds.

I'm surprised how clean all of the practice sessions have gone considering there has only been one minor accident and 2 engines (both Honda) have blown up. I'm also hearing rumors there might be extra cars entered in the field tomorrow. It should be interesting how qualifying will go this weekend.

RealRacer4 wrote:So the turbo boosts were turned up to the same amount that they've run on the road courses all year today and without the draft help, Ryan Hunter-Reay has the fastest speed of 226 MPH!

And a few months ago, most of us (including myself) didn't think those guys will get up to those speeds.

I'm surprised how clean all of the practice sessions have gone considering there has only been one minor accidents and 2 engines (both Honda) have blown up. I'm also hearing rumors there might be extra cars entered in the field tomorrow. It should be interesting how qualifying will go this weekend.

Turbo boosts are going off after Bump Day though.

flyingturns89 wrote:

RealRacer4 wrote:So the turbo boosts were turned up to the same amount that they've run on the road courses all year today and without the draft help, Ryan Hunter-Reay has the fastest speed of 226 MPH!

And a few months ago, most of us (including myself) didn't think those guys will get up to those speeds.

I'm surprised how clean all of the practice sessions have gone considering there has only been one minor accidents and 2 engines (both Honda) have blown up. I'm also hearing rumors there might be extra cars entered in the field tomorrow. It should be interesting how qualifying will go this weekend.

Turbo boosts are going off after Bump Day though.

I heard the the 2nd Honda engine that blew up had over 300 laps on it, so it's not too surprising. All of the teams will have the option to switch to new engines on Carb Day and won't suffer any grid penalties for the Indy 500.

Ready to Rage?

The last 90 minutes of round of one WILL NOT be shown on tv , instead airing the pre race show for the Preakness. The last 90 minutes of round one are Internet Only.

The 9 car shootout for pole will be shown after the preekness pre race is over.

qual order ( if everyone qualifies their primary car)
Pos Driver Team/Car
2. Tony Kanaan KV DW12-Chevrolet
3. Simona de Silvestro HVM DW12-Lotus
6. Katherine Legge Dragon DW12-Chevrolet
7. Scott Dixon Ganassi DW12-Honda
8. Townsend Bell Schmidt DW12-Honda
17. Will Power Penske DW12-Chevrolet
18. Charlie Kimball Ganassi DW12-Honda
19. Sebastien Bourdais Dragon DW12-Chevrolet
20. Helio Castroneves Penske DW12-Chevrolet
22. Wade Cunningham Foyt DW12-Honda
25. Sebastian Saavedra Andretti DW12-Chevrolet
27. Justin Wilson Coyne DW12-Honda
28. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti DW12-Chevrolet
29. James Jakes Coyne DW12-Honda
30. Bryan Clauson Fisher DW12-Honda
31. Dario Franchitti Ganassi DW12-Honda
33. Graham Rahal Ganassi DW12-Honda
34. Josef Newgarden Fisher DW12-Honda
37. Ryan Briscoe Penske DW12-Chevrolet
38. Ana Beatriz Andretti DW12-Chevrolet
40. Jean Alesi Fan Force DW12-Lotus
41. Ed Carpenter Carpenter DW12-Chevrolet
42. Michel Jourdain Jr. Rahal DW12-Honda
43. Rubens Barrichello KV DW12-Chevrolet
45. Takuma Sato Rahal DW12-Honda
46. Oriol Servia Panther/DRR DW12-Chevrolet
51. EJ Viso KV DW12-Chevrolet
53. JR Hildebrand Panther DW12-Chevrolet
58. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt DW12-Honda
59. James Hinchcliffe Andretti DW12-Chevrolet
62. Marco Andretti Andretti DW12-Chevrolet
64. Alex Tagliani BHA DW12-Honda
66. Mike Conway Foyt DW12-Honda

Simona De Silvestro and Jean Alesi do not plan on qualifing Today. Even Lotus knows they are slow. They even said " we will take the 33rd position on the grid"

Well how about it? It's nice to hear Derek Daly's voice again. I actually turned the TV on just in time to see the live crash of Bryan Clauson. I'm glad he's okay.

Shit, how what happened to Kanaan?

Milan655 wrote:Shit, how what happened to Kanaan?

DQ'd for ballast issues

Missing ballast on the #11.

Emotional run from Hinch. The biggest crime of the split is that guys like Moore, Zanardi, Blundell, etc never got to run at the Speedway. That's criminal!

pennst24 wrote:Missing ballast on the #11.

Emotional run from Hinch. The biggest crime of the split is that guys like Moore, Zanardi, Blundell, etc never got to run at the Speedway. That's criminal!

This.

Speaking of the split, it's honestly sad that they can't get this kind of crowd on Pole Day like they used to.

pennst24 wrote:
The biggest crime of the split is that guys like Moore, Zanardi, Blundell, etc never got to run at the Speedway. That's criminal!

Died.
Lost Legs.
Retired.

That's most likely why they didn't run

RealRacer4 wrote:

pennst24 wrote:Missing ballast on the #11.

Emotional run from Hinch. The biggest crime of the split is that guys like Moore, Zanardi, Blundell, etc never got to run at the Speedway. That's criminal!

This.

Speaking of the split, it's honestly sad that they can't get this kind of crowd on Pole Day like they used to.

GOTTA WATCH A PREDICTABLE ALL-STAR RACE!

Alta wrote:

pennst24 wrote:
The biggest crime of the split is that guys like Moore, Zanardi, Blundell, etc never got to run at the Speedway. That's criminal!

Died.
Lost Legs.
Retired.

That's most likely why they didn't run

Yet Zanardi continues in WTCC. He's a hero for most people, just for courage.

That's bull, how can you disqualify someone for not having a weight on a mirror?

Oriol Servia = Cone Killer