Pole speed? “I think 229 or 230… it’s possible.” – Helio Castroneves [Russ Lake Photo]
IndyCar Series teams got on the track for only nineteen minutes Friday before rain postponed any further runs in preparation for this weekend’s scramble for starting positions in the 98th Indianapolis 500.
Ed Carpenter paced the brief session with the fastest lap of the month; a blazing 230.522 mph in his Fuzzy’s Vodka/Carpenter Racing Chevrolet.
Just behind Carpenter was three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves at 229. 843 mph in the Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Team Penske Chevrolet.
Rounding out the top five speeds were Marco Andretti (229.419), JR Hildebrand (229.384) and Josef Newgarden (229.276).
All together seven drivers were over 229 mph in a field separated from top to bottom by 2.4 sec.
Notes and Quotes:
• Rain delayed the opening of the track until 2:52 PM today; the final day of practice before qualifying commences its two-day format on Saturday.
• Under the heading of “planning ahead”, long-time Indy 500 entrant Jonathan Byrd Racing has announced that it will return to the Indianapolis 500 in 2015 and 2016 with driver Bryan Clauson signed for next year’s run. The team last appeared in the 500 in 2005 with Buddy Lazier, and first ran here 30-years ago with Rich Vogler in the cockpit.
• With the changes in qualifying procedures that will take effect beginning this weekend, the IMS has produced a two-page explanation entitled “Indianapolis 500 Qualifying 101”. As I write this, Derrick Walker, IndyCar President of Competition and Operations, is meeting with entrants, trying to explain the new format under which they will qualify on Saturday/Sunday.
• Beginning in 1967 with Andy Granatelli, the Borg Warner Louis Schwitzer trophy has been awarded annually to individuals for their innovation and engineering excellence in race car design associated with the Indianapolis 500. Granatelli won for his pioneering STP turbine-powered cars 47-years ago. The 2014 winner was Andrea Toso, Head of Research and Development for Dallara. The award was given for Toso’s work on the Dallara INDYCAR Simulator which allows drivers and teams to quickly evaluate the on-track performance of new race car components and system designs.
• Andretti Autosport driver James Hinchcliffe was happy that he was cleared to qualify for the 500 after the concussion he received in Saturday’s Grand Prix of Indianapolis: “Getting better was the No. 1 goal and the effort we put into that is paying off because we even surprised the doctors with how quickly we’ve been able to come back. I did a really intense day of resting (Sunday), which is kind of an oxymoron, and a lot of sitting around.”
• With 33 cars entered for the 500, 34 drivers have been on the track to date. Andretti Autosport had E.J. Viso practicing in case James Hinchcliffe wasn’t cleared to drive after his concussion. Viso could sub for NASCAR’s Kurt Busch should anything keep him from qualifying or racing in the 500. Justin Allgaier is standing-by in Charlotte should Busch not make it for the Coca Cola 600 on Sunday. Busch has approximately 2 1/2 hours between races to get from Indy to Charlotte in his attempt to “Do the Double.”
• Rookie James Davison completed all three phases of the Rookie orientation Program on Thursday and is cleared to qualify his KV Racing Technology entry on Saturday.
• For those of you who listen to the radio broadcast of the 500, The IMS Radio Network has added former driver and team-owner Robbie Buhl to its announcing line-up. He joins chief announcer Paul Paige and Speedway historian Donald Davidson for this year’s broadcast.
• The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame is presenting a display of 11 historic turbine-powered cars that appeared at the Speedway during the years 1955-1971; known as “The Turbine Era.” Among the cars on display are the STP turbines entered by Andy Granatelli and driven in the 500 by Parnelli Jones, Joe Leonard, Graham Hill and Art Pollard. The display will run through March, 2015.
• “Quote of the Day” – Three-time 500 winner Helio Castroneves: “At Indianapolis, qualifying is always very stressful… Rick Mears always said there are two types of races, and it is true. It is qualifying and then the race. Now we definitely have to go for Saturday and Sunday (qualifying), so that is going to be nerve wracking I will tell you…To do two days in a row will be really tough. I don’t think my guys will have much sleep. I think 229 or 230… it’s possible.
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