NEWS & UPDATES Archives

Smiled Dixon Power at odds over desired weather for Indy 500

May 29, 2021 by Clyde Nelson Leave a Comment

Scott Dixon and Will Power are hoping for different weather and track conditions as they tackle the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500 from opposite ends of the grid.After almost two hours of Carb Day practice in 59-60degF ambient temperatures, the two former Indy 500 winners agreed that cold air tomorrow would increase the amount of back and forth racing, as it provides more downforce.

Power will need that to help him make progress through the turbulent air from his shocking last-row grid slot, but pole-winner Dixon wants it warmer to give him a chance to ease away from his rivals

Reflecting on the 47 laps he spent on track during the Carb Day session, Dixon said the frantic action provided a preview of what it could be like on Sunday – although peak temperature is expected to reach 70degF during the race, which starts at 12.45pm ET.

The Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda ace said: “With the weather conditions it was super-stuck for everyone, easy to pass back in the pack, which was definitely interesting… which may show how the race is going to be, come Sunday. Hopefully it warms up a little bit to create some separation.

“But we got through what we needed to. We got the miles on the engine that we needed to. Ran through some fuel mixtures, did the full-tank stuff and all that, so it was good.

Power said that all four Team Penske-Chevrolets finishing the session was not unexpected – “Low-boost race trim we’ve been very good all the time” – and added, “We haven’t really ventured far from our original setup from the last couple weeks.

“Yeah, in a good window. Got a new engine obviously [all entries get fresh engines for Carb Day and the race] so it’s probably a little bit better. Felt good. It’s just going to be a matter of catching a good yellow, or if it’s cool, you can pass. Hoping for a cooler day.”

Dixon agreed, “It would be a better show, but I don’t think you can call it racing. It’s just easier for everybody. It’s a good show, but it’s just easy…

“I think it will be better for Power, too, to be warmer. I think their cars would be better. I think the better cars always find their way to the front.”

Dixon was asked about how he’d feel if he did find himself battling his long-time rival for the win.

“It will be impressive!” smiled Dixon. “I honestly felt bad for Will [in qualifying]. Obviously he’s a fierce competitor. Seeing the struggles – not him, but the team – are going through for qualifying pace.

“He’s probably the greatest qualifier of our era if not all time. You definitely know it’s not him, it’s just one of those frustrating things. He handled it extremely well. Kudos for keeping his foot in it, too, which made for some great TV, some great internet stuff, as well.

“Obviously I’ll be in the car so I won’t be able to watch it. I’m sure at some point we’ll be fighting it out. Should be great.”

Power said that trying to make big gains from the back of the grid will require the usual balance of care and aggression, rather than all-out charge.

“Obviously you can’t be too conservative but you can’t be too aggressive either. You don’t want to end up in the wall. Just a methodical day. Good pitstop sequences, maybe fish for a lucky yellow, a strategy call like that.

“You can’t force it around this place. You just can’t. You got to get a good balance and get in that rhythm. It’s very difficult to tell if you can pass [when you’re] 32 cars back. Like last year at the start, we qualified 24th or something and you couldn’t do much at all. There’s a bit more downforce this year, I’m hoping that you can, if you got a bit better car, get through a few cars…

“I felt like we didn’t have a very good car at all. We could have finished sixth if I didn’t go long in the last pit stop. You can move forward, no question, just through other people’s mistakes and doing a solid day.”

Dixon added: “If it’s like this, it’s going to be mentally draining because there’s a lot of action going on. You can kind of pass on the front straight, repass on the back straight. A lot of action going on.

“Looking forward to it if that’s the way it plays out. But I think when the pack is a lot tighter, it also has the opportunity for some missteps and maybe some bigger caution periods, things like that. Hopefully everybody remains safe.”

News souce : https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/dixon-power-weather-downforce-racing-indy-500/6517997/https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/dixon-power-weather-downforce-racing-indy-500/6517997/

2021 Indy 500 qualifying features 35 drivers seeking

May 20, 2021 by Clyde Nelson Leave a Comment

Thirty-five cars will fill 33 starting spots for the 105th Indianapolis 500 on May 30 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. An official Indy 500 qualifying attempt is 4 laps around the 2.5-mile oval. Here’s how the process works: (One disclaimer: IndyCar doesn’t run on ovals in the rain, so bad weather can prompt procedure changes.

Indy 500 qualifying on May 22

Each car is guaranteed one qualifying attempt. Drivers usually will complete and accept their first attempt, but sometimes an attempt is “waved off” if the team considers it uncompetitive.

Drivers may make as many attempts as they wish, but they must make a choice on their subsequent attempts. Two lanes will be established on pit road — the “normal” lane and the “fast” lane.Drivers making later attempts from the normal lane may do so without withdrawing the result of their previous attempt. Drivers choosing the fast lane get priority over drivers in the normal lane, but those drivers must withdraw any earlier attempts. (Many drivers in the fast line did not complete an earlier attempt.)

After the first day of qualifying, positions 10-30 (Rows 3-10) are set for the race.

Indy 500 bump day

Drivers ranked 31st or worse after the first day of qualifying compete for the final three race positions (Row 11). Drivers get one attempt. When 33 positions are occupied on the starting grid, faster subsequent attempts will “bump” the slowest of that day’s qualifiers off the grid. When the qualifying session is completed, the 31st, 32nd and 33rd starting spots are set. The cars finishing 34th and 35th are out of the race.

Indy 500 pole day

Later that day, the “Fast Nine” qualifying will determine the first nine positions (Rows 1-3) for the race.

Each driver in this group gets one attempt. The fastest earns the pole position, which earns him or her a $100,000 prize on top of getting to lead the field to the green flag in the May 30 race. Second-fastest starts 2nd, etc.If a driver fails to complete a qualifying attempt during this session, he or she would start no worse than 9th.

When is Indy 500 qualifying?

Saturday, May 22: 9:30-10:30 a.m., practice; noon-5:50 p.m., qualifying Tickets

Sunday, May 23: 11 a.m.-noon, practice; 1:15-2:30 p.m., last chance qualifying; 3-3:45 p.m., Fast Nine qualifying; 5-7 p.m., Indy 500 practice

How can I watch or stream Indy 500 qualifying?

Saturday, May 22: 9:30-10:30 a.m., Peacock; noon-2 p.m., Peacock; 2-3 p.m., NBC, Peacock; 3-6 p.m., NBCSN, Peacock.

Sunday, May 23: 11 a.m.-noon, Peacock; 1-2:30 p.m., NBCSN, Peacock; 2:30-4:30 p.m, NBC, Peacock; 4:30-7 p.m., Peacock.

Who won the pole position for the 2020 Indy 500?

Marco Andretti earned the top spot, average 231.068 mph.

Who has won the most pole positions in Indy 500 history?

Rick Mears won the pole position 6 times (1979, ’82, ’86, ’88, ’89 and ’91). He won the race from the top spot in 1979, ’88 and ’91, as well as in 1984 (from the 3rd starting position).

What is the fastest Indy 500 qualifying speed?

Arie Luyendyk completed 4 laps averaging 236.986 mph in 1996. At the time, rules dictated the pole position could be earned only on the first day of qualifying. Because his effort came on the second of four days of qualifying (his car failed inspection after his first attempt), he earned the 21th starting spot.

News Source : https://www.indystar.com/

Indy 500 purse,How much prize money does the winner get in 2020?

August 23, 2020 by Clyde Nelson Leave a Comment

The #Indy 500# n 2020 was going to award the winner more money than ever from a record $15 million purse. This was the promise of Roger Penske, the super-rich race team owner who purchased Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in the United States in the spring, and everything changed.

Not only was the 2020 Indy 500 pushed back to August from its traditional date in May, but after initially planning to host fans at 50 percent capacity and then at 25 percent capacity, Indianapolis Motor Speedway was forced to proceed with the race without fans in attendance. Which directly impacts the purse for the Indy 500.

MORE: Everything to know about the Indy 500 in 2020

According to Racer Magazine, the lack of Indy 500 ticket sales alone takes at least $20 million away from the track’s earnings. So Penske had to cut the Indy 500 purse in half, from $15 million to $7.5 million.

“I’m not worried about the purse,” IndyCar team owner Chip Ganassi said earlier this month. “Sure we’d like to have more money, but this isn’t about one year and (Penske) is doing all he can.”

Added Ed Carpenter, another team owner who also races part-time himself: “We could be in a much worse situation than we are, and instead of b—ing about the prize money, I think we’re thankful to have the opportunity to compete. It’s still pretty damn big money, but if the only way to win was not make a penny, I’d do that every day of the week.”

Below are all of the details about the purse for the Indy 500 in 2020, including how much money the winner is projected to receive and how the payout breakdown looks.
How much does the Indy 500 winner get?

Prize money: $1.5 million (est.)

This is an estimate based on past Indy 500 payout breakdowns and the updated purse of $7.5 million for the 2020 Indy 500.

The driver-by-driver earnings from the 2020 Indy 500 will not be announced until the day after the race, but recent Indy 500 winners have earned roughly 20 percent of the purse. And 20 percent of $7.5 million is $1.5 million.

Even though the winner of the 2020 Indy 500 will receive half of what he would have earned from a $15 million purse, he will still receive much more than anybody else, at least double the amount of the second-place earnings based on previous Indy 500 payouts.

For example, last year’s Indy 500 winner, Simon Pagenaud, earned $2,669,529 from an overall purse of $13,090,536. Second-place finisher Alexander Rossi earned $759,179.
What is the Indy 500 purse for 2020?

Indy 500 purse: $7.5 million

So much for Penske’s plan to raise the Indy 500 purse almost $2 million from $13,090,536 million last year to $15 million in 2020.

Penske told team owners in early August that the 2020 Indy 500 payout would be reduced to $7.5 million due mostly to the track’s inability to host fans. It’s a huge hit to all of the race teams involved, but half of the prize money typically awarded at the Indy 500 is better than nothing.

“Far and away it’s what makes and breaks our season as teams,” Carpenter told reporters earlier this month (via NBC Sports). “It’s the most important event to our partners. It 100 percent sucks not having fans there and not even being able to have the experience with our partners in full being there. But it’s necessary.

“We’ve got to look at all the hard decisions now of what we have to do to be in a position to have fans in 2021. It’s critical for the health of the teams that we have this race to make sure we have teams back here next year. That sounds a little dramatic, but that’s the reality.”
Indy 500 payout breakdown 2020

The details of the Indy 500 payout system are undisclosed, but it is relatively complicated. The purse is made up of prize money from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the IndyCar Series, sponsors and organizers, meaning a driver with a certain sponsor might have a chance to make more money in the Indy 500 than a driver with a different sponsor.

Further, the Indy 500 payout fluctuates based on variables like the number of laps led, fastest laps and so on. That’s why the driver who finishes seventh, for example, could earn less in prize money than the driver who finishes eighth.

For reference, below are the results from last year’s Indy 500 and the payouts for each driver. Because of the purse reduction, the payouts in 2020 will be roughly half of what they were in 2019.
Pos. Driver Earnings

Pos.	Driver	Earnings
1.	Simon Pagenaud	$2,669,529
2.	Alexander Rossi	$759,179
3.	Takuma Sato	$540,454
4.	Josef Newgarden	$462,904
5.	Will Power	$444,554
6.	Ed Carpenter	$450,554
7.	Santino Ferrucci	$435,404
8.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	$379,129
9.	Tony Kanaan	$369,129
10.	Conor Daly	$230,805
11.	James Hinchcliffe	$365,129
12.	James Davison	$220,305
13.	Ed Jones	$233,305
14.	Spencer Pigot	$377,229
15.	Matheus Leist	$344,129
16.	Pippa Mann	$200,305
17.	Scott Dixon	$359,204
18.	Helio Castroneves	$200,305
19.	Sage Karam	$204,305
20.	JR Hildebrand	$200,305
21.	Jack Harvey	$200,305
22.	Oriol Servia	$203,305
23.	Marcus Ericsson	$384,629
24.	Jordan King	$200,805
25.	Charlie Kimball	$200,305
26.	Marco Andretti	$334,129
27.	Graham Raha	$334,129
28.	Felix Rosenqvist	$353,279
29.	Zach Veach	$334,129
30.	Sebastien Bourdais	$342,129
31.	Kyle Kaiser	$205,305
32.	Ben Hanley	$200,805
33.	Colton Herta	$351,129

The Indy 500 purse hasn’t been as low as $7.5 million since the early 1990s. The winner used to receive more than 50 percent of the purse, which is no longer the case.

Below are all of the purses and winners’ earnings in the 103-year history of the Indy 500.

Pos.	Driver	Earnings
1.	Simon Pagenaud	$2,669,529
2.	Alexander Rossi	$759,179
3.	Takuma Sato	$540,454
4.	Josef Newgarden	$462,904
5.	Will Power	$444,554
6.	Ed Carpenter	$450,554
7.	Santino Ferrucci	$435,404
8.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	$379,129
9.	Tony Kanaan	$369,129
10.	Conor Daly	$230,805
11.	James Hinchcliffe	$365,129
12.	James Davison	$220,305
13.	Ed Jones	$233,305
14.	Spencer Pigot	$377,229
15.	Matheus Leist	$344,129
16.	Pippa Mann	$200,305
17.	Scott Dixon	$359,204
18.	Helio Castroneves	$200,305
19.	Sage Karam	$204,305
20.	JR Hildebrand	$200,305
21.	Jack Harvey	$200,305
22.	Oriol Servia	$203,305
23.	Marcus Ericsson	$384,629
24.	Jordan King	$200,805
25.	Charlie Kimball	$200,305
26.	Marco Andretti	$334,129
27.	Graham Raha	$334,129
28.	Felix Rosenqvist	$353,279
29.	Zach Veach	$334,129
30.	Sebastien Bourdais	$342,129
31.	Kyle Kaiser	$205,305
32.	Ben Hanley	$200,805
33.	Colton Herta	$351,129

Indy 500 payout history

The Indy 500 purse hasn’t been as low as $7.5 million since the early 1990s. The winner used to receive more than 50 percent of the purse, which is no longer the case.

Below are all of the purses and winners’ earnings in the 103-year history of the Indy 500.

Year	Purse	Winner	Winner’s earnings
1911	$27,550	Ray Harroun	$14,250
1912	$52,225	Joe Dawson	$20,000
1913	$55,875	Jules Goux	$20,000
1914	$51,675	Rene Thomas	$20,000
1915	$51,200	Ralph DePalma	$20,000
1916	$31,350	Dario Resta	$12,000
1919	$55,275	Howdy Wilcox	$20,000
1920	$93,550	Gaston Chevrolet	$21,400
1921	$86,850	Tommy Milton	$26,400
1922	$70,575	Jimmy Murphy	$26,200
1923	$83,425	Tommy Milton	$28,500
1924	$86,850	L.L. Corum/Joe Boyer	$20,050
1925	$87,750	Peter DePaolo	$28,800
1926	$88,100	Frank Lockhart	$35,600
1927	$89,850	George Souders	$30,625
1928	$90,750	Louis Meyer	$28,250
1929	$95,150	Ray Keech	$31,950
1930	$96,250	Billy Arnold	$36,900
1931	$81,800	Louis Schneider	$29,500
1932	$93,900	Fred Frame	$31,050
1933	$54,450	Louis Meyer	$18,000
1934	$83,775	Bill Cummings	$29,725
1935	$78,575	Kelly Petillo	$30,600
1936	$82,525	Louis Meyer	$31,300
1937	$92,135	Wilbur Shaw	$35,075
1938	$91,075	Floyd Roberts	$32,075
1939	$87,050	Wilbur Shaw	$27,375
1940	$85,525	Wilbur Shaw	$30,725
1941	$90,925	Floyd Davis/Mauri Rose	$29,200
1946	$115,450	George Robson	$42,350
1947	$137,425	Mauri Rose	$33,425
1948	$171,075	Mauri Rose	$42,800
1949	$179,050	Bill Holland	$51,575
1950	$201,035	Johnnie Parsons	$57,458
1951	$207,650	Lee Wallard	$63,612
1952	$230,100	Troy Ruttman	$61,743
1953	$246,300	Bill Vukovich	$89,496
1954	$269,375	Bill Vukovich	$74,934
1955	$270,400	Bob Sweikert	$76,138
1956	$282,052	Pat Flaherty	$93,819
1957	$300,252	Sam Hanks	$103,844
1958	$305,217	Jimmy Bryan	$105,574
1959	$338,100	Rodger Ward	$106,850
1960	$369,150	Jim Rathmann	$110,000
1961	$400,000	A.J. Foyt	$117,975
1962	$426,152	Rodger Ward	$125,015
1963	$494,030	Parnelli Jones	$148,513
1964	$506,575	A.J. Foyt	$153,650
1965	$628,399	Jim Clark	$166,621
1966	$691,808	Graham Hill	$156,297
1967	$734,834	A.J. Foyt	$171,527
1968	$712,269	Bobby Unser	$175,139
1969	$805,127	Mario Andretti	$206,727
1970	$1,000,002	Al Unser	$271,697
1971	$1,001,604	Al Unser	$238,454
1972	$1,011,845	Mark Donohue	$218,767
1973	$1,006,105	Gordon Johncock	$236,022
1974	$1,015,686	Johnny Rutherford	$245,031
1975	$1,001,321	Bobby Unser	$214,031
1976	$1,037,776	Johnny Rutherford	$255,321
1977	$1,116,807	A.J. Foyt	$259,791
1978	$1,145,225	Al Unser	$290,363
1979	$1,271,954	Rick Mears	$270,401
1980	$1,503,225	Johnny Rutherford	$318,819
1981	$1,605,375	Bobby Unser	$299,124
1982	$2,067,475	Gordon Johncock	$290,609
1983	$2,411,450	Tom Sneva	$385,886
1984	$2,795,899	Rick Mears	$434,060
1985	$3,271,025	Danny Sullivan	$517,662
1986	$4,001,450	Bobby Rahal	$581,062
1987	$4,490,375	Al Unser	$526,762
1988	$5,025,400	Rick Mears	$809,853
1989	$5,723,725	Emerson Fittipaldi	$1,001,604
1990	$6,325,803	Arie Luyendyk	$1,090,940
1991	$7,009,150	Rick Mears	$1,219,704
1992	$7,527,450	Al Unser Jr.	$1,244,184
1993	$7,681,300	Emerson Fittipaldi	$1,155,304
1994	$7,864,800	Al Unser Jr.	$1,373,813
1995	$8,063,550	Jacques Villeneuve	$1,312,019
1996	$8,114,600	Buddy Lazier	$1,367,854
1997	$8,612,450	Arie Luyendyk	$1,568,150
1998	$8,722,150	Eddie Cheever Jr.	$1,433,000
1999	$9,047,150	Kenny Brack	$1,465,190
2000	$9,476,505	Juan Pablo Montoya	$1,235,690
2001	$9,610,325	Helio Castroneves	$1,270,475
2002	$10,028,580	Helio Castroneves	$1,606,215
2003	$10,151,830	Gil de Ferran	$1,353,265
2004	$10,250,580	Buddy Rice	$1,761,740
2005	$10,304,815	Dan Wheldon	$1,537,805
2006	$10,518,565	Sam Hornish Jr.	$1,744,855
2007	$10,668,815	Dario Franchitti	$1,645,233
2008	$14,406,580	Scott Dixon	$2,988,065
2009	$14,315,315	Helio Castroneves	$3,048,005
2010	$13,592,815	Dario Franchitti	$2,752,055
2011	$13,509,485	Dan Wheldon	$2,592,255
2012	$13,285,815	Dario Franchitti	$2,474,280
2013	$12,020,065	Tony Kanaan	$2,353,355
2014	$14,231,760	Ryan Hunter-Reay	$2,491,194
2015	$13,397,315	Juan Pablo Montoya	$2,449,055
2016	$13,273,253	Alexander Rossi	$2,548,743
2017	$13,178,359	Takuma Sato	$2,458,129
2018	$13,078,065	Will Power	$2,525,454
2019	$13,090,536	Simon Pagenaud	$2,669,529
2020	$7.5 million	–

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/motorsports/news/indy-500-payouts-purse-2020-prize-money/16x9jbef8xozf102akgurl2cjm

2020 Indy 500 Live Show without fans due gallery COVID-19

August 18, 2020 by Clyde Nelson Leave a Comment

The Indianapolis 500 will be held without fans in attendance this year, due to growing health and safety concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced Tuesday.Consequently, 2020 becomes the first time in the race’s 109-year history fans won’t be in the grandstands around the 2.5-mile oval to watch the race live.

“What I hope people recognize is that we’ve done everything possible to be able to do it with fans,” Penske Entertainment Corp. president and CEO Mark Miles told IndyStar on Tuesday. “This plan will go down as the model for how to do a mass gathering under these circumstances if it were possible.

“We’ve said all along that we had to hang in there and see if the public health situation would allow us to do it, and we’re at least as disappointed as all the fans that we can’t have them there this year.”

In a news release, IMS said that since the June 26 announcement of a 50% max capacity for this year’s race, positive cases in Marion County have tripled, while the positivity rate has doubled.

“We said from the beginning of the pandemic that we would put the health and safety of our community first, and while hosting spectators at a limited capacity with our robust plan in place was appropriate in late June, it is not the right path forward based on the current environment,” the release stated.

Added Miles: “We knew these numbers were where they were at the time, but the hope of the city and state and ours was that the measures that had just been put in place would reduce those trends, but no one could predict anything. We hoped all this would get back to where things were in late-June, and that just hasn’t materialized. We’ve been very aware of the numbers, day by day, and wanted to give it as much time as possible to see if the metrics could be reversed and improved, but we’re out of time.”

The news means all on-track activity around the 500 in August will be closed to the general public, and those who had tickets will be credited for the 2021 race and retain their seniority.

But, Miles stated, he believes nothing will keep the race from happening on Aug. 23 with roughly 1,500 essential personnel on the grounds of the track.

“Except for rain,” he said.

But moving ahead without fans means race officials can avoid canceling the Indy 500 for what would have been only the 7th time since its inaugural running in 1911. The six cancellations came in stretches from 1917-18 and 1942-45 during the First and Second World Wars.

The change comes despite new IndyCar and IMS owner Roger Penske’s assertion back in early June that the first Indy 500 under his stewardship would be held only if fans would be able to attend.

The change in plans also comes just a couple of weeks after IndyCar and IMS officials released an 88-page health and safety plan that detailed how they planned to help keep an estimated 25%-capacity crowd orderly and safe during the two weeks of activities leading up to the 104th running of the Indy 500, as well as race day itself.

In that plan, released July 22, officials announced that, of the original estimated 170,000 tickets IMS had sold by late June for this year’s race, nearly half of those were relinquished in exchange for future IMS event credit after officials sent out a survey to ticketholders June 26 asking if they would like to hold onto their tickets, given the current climate. Ticketholders were told they would get only half of their tickets in the area they originally were located to allow for social distance in seating. At that point, IMS announced a maximum capacity of 50% (or roughly 175,000 fans) for the Aug. 23 race.

On Aug. 3, more than two weeks after the Bristol Motor Speedway race on July 15 in Tennessee had more than 20,000 people, local public health officials said that they had not identified any COVID-19 case clusters directly associated with the NASCAR All-Star Race, the Bristol Herald Courier reported.

Bristol Motor Speedway mandated physically distanced spectators in the stands and required attendees to wear masks except for at their seats.

As part of IMS’s health and safety plan, for all open events at IMS, starting with the opening day of practice Aug. 12, fans were to be given a mask and hand sanitizer upon entry. Mask-wearing would have been required throughout the facility – including while sitting in seats – except for when actively eating or drinking. Fans entering would have been given a contact-less temperature check and permitted to enter only if they registered below 100.4 degrees. Ticket sales ended July 24 to ensure they wouldn’t be sold above the 25% capacity mark combined in grandstands, suites and the infield that turned out to be the limit due to Marion County guidelines that were announced days later the same week.

The release of the plan followed a months’ long assurance from Penske that fans would be in attendance in some capacity for the first Indy 500 in his stewardship. With the release of this latest news, this year’s Indy 500 now will be the third race of the 2020 IndyCar season held without fans, along with the season-opener at Texas Motor Speedway and the GMR Grand Prix held July 4 during the doubleheader weekend with NASCAR at IMS.

“We’re determined to do whatever we need to do, even if it’s non-traditional, to make this the best possible experience during the pandemic,” Miles told IndyStar June 26. “We feel like it’s our responsibility to do that, and we hope people will trust us to look out for the greater good here.

“The details may change in the coming weeks, but we’ve still got (nearly) two months.”

On Tuesday, Miles said as the race had drawn closer, it became much harder to predict or hope things would shift in a positive way.

“We really don’t have a tremendous sense of optimism now a day or two or three from now for the metrics to improve,” he said. “And so another day was unlikely to make much a difference. And with everything that was going on to get ready for the event to host fans, with our business partners and teams doing what they needed to do to be prepared, and any changes that needed to be made to the TV program, it just wouldn’t have been right, if we didn’t have an ongoing sense of optimism, to keep people in the green flag pattern.”

Before the GMR Grand Prix, Penske told IndyStar he’d be satisfied with what he called a “Super Bowl crowd,” ranging from 65,000 to 100,000, as he awaited the results of the ticketholder survey.

“I can’t guarantee anything, but at the same time, we can’t shut the world down, shut commerce down,” he said. “None of this is to line our pockets with gold. This is an investment, and it’s about the history of all this.”

Under protocols for Gov. Eric Holcomb’s Stage 4.5 of Indiana’s “Back on Track” reopening plan clarified in mid-July, event organizers planning to hold events with more than 250 people had to submit a plan to their local health department July 23 to approve capacity limits and social distancing measures, among other things.
Seal of approval

When it was unveiled, IMS’s plan was given the seal of approval from Marion County Public Health Department director, Dr. Virginia Caine, who stated in the release, “The IMS plan has been developed in consultation with the Marion County Public Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health, and reflects the current best practices and mitigating steps outdoor venues should have in place to host public events.”

She added, though, that it would be under continued review, as health conditions locally and statewide evolved.

Why Eating Indy 500 milk? How victory lane celebration started

August 18, 2020 by Clyde Nelson Leave a Comment

The 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 takes place on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET watch indy 500 live stream on NBC and the NBC Sports app. Year after year, we’ve watched the winners celebrate their victory by taking a swig of milk on the podium and sometimes even topping off the moment of triumph by pouring it on their heads but how exactly did the Indy 500 milk tradition begin?

How Indy 500 milk tradition began

In 1933, after earning his second Indy 500 win, Louis Meyer requested a glass of buttermilk—a drink he often had as a refresher on hot days. In 1936, Meyer claimed his third Indy 500 title and this time, he was photographed with a glass of buttermilk in one hand and holding three fingers up on the other. The photo appeared in the paper the following day, catching the attention of a dairy industry executive who requested that milk would be available to the winner each year. It took some time for the tradition to stick. From 1947-1955, the winner received water in a silver cup, normally presented by track president and three-time Indy 500 winner Wilbur Shaw, with the words ‘Water from Wilbur’ engraved on the cup.

In 1956, with Shaw having perished in a private plane crash in October 1954, the dairy industry posted a $400 bonus to the winner if they chose to drink milk in Victory Circle. And while the Shaw cup did remain for a few more years, milk has been part of the Indianapolis 500 tradition ever since. Today, winners receive a $10,000 bonus from the American Dairy Association of Indiana.

Do you have to drink milk?

While drivers do have the choice, fans take the milk tradition very seriously. In 1993, driver and successful orange grove owner Emerson Fittipaldi wanted to promote the citrus industry and drank a bottle of orange juice after his second Indy 500 win. Fittipaldi was booed by fans, even after taking a sip of milk in an attempt to appease them. The decision tarnished his image for a period of time, and even got him booed at other IndyCar races.

Yes. Every year, each driver is polled before the race to see what type of milk (whole, 2% or fat-free) they would like if they were to win the event. Flavors are not allowed, but drivers can request lactose-free milk if they have an intolerance.

Who delivers the Indy 500 milk?

There are two designated milk people—dairy farmers voted in from the American Dairy Association of Indiana’s board with a two-year term. The rookie milk person brings milk to the winning mechanic and owner, while the second-year milk person delivers the milk to the winner of the race. In previous years, the milk and milk people have been transported with a police escort or armored truck.

Tune into the race on Sunday, August 23rd at 1 p.m. ET on NBC to find out who will be drinking the milk in Victory Circle.

NEWS SOURCE : https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2020/08/16/why-indy-500-milk-how-tradition-began/

How to watch the Indy 500 Live Stream FREE in UK

August 4, 2020 by Clyde Nelson Leave a Comment

Many fans are asking when the Indy 500 takes place? The Indy 500 or the Indianapolis 500 this year did not go according to the original plan. The organizers finally set the tournament back to August. The 104th Indy 500 will take place on August 23, 2020. Also, all Indy 500 concerts and festival parades that usually accompany this event will not happen. Nevertheless, two weeks before the competition, the committee will still present a practical session which is two days for qualification and Carb Day’s final practice also pit stop competition.

How to Watch Indy 500 Live Stream at UK

The Best Way to Watching option You will be able to watch the race live on Sky Sports F1 or online via the SkyGo app.As one of the prestigious tournaments, of course, this great event not only airs in the US but also throughout the world. Many UK fans also look forward to the Indy 500. Then how can fans watch the Indy 500 live even though they are elsewhere? For those of you who live in the UK and want to watch Indy 500 broadcasts via TV, then you can use the BT Sport channel. BT Sport is the official broadcaster for Indy 500 in the UK. For viewers who subscribe to BT Sport can directly watch live broadcasts via the official BT Sport website. Meanwhile, for unsubscribed viewers, you can use a VPN to get access from other locations.

Watch indy 500 Live streaming the UK outside

Can I do live stream the Indy 500 for free? Of Course, You can. There are so many ways to access the indy 500 live streams for free. Almost all cable TV networks and streaming sites provide access to the viewers. The problem is that you have to subscribe to be able to access via that network or sites.

Can I watch the Indy 500 online free?

One of the channels that you can use is DirecTV. Even if you have to register, you can use a free trial to be able to do free streaming.

The free trial period for DirecTV is seven days. You can register right before broadcasting starts. ABC is also one of the networks that you can access outside of US territory. The trick is to use a VPN. Thus, wherever you are, you will not miss this event. Apart from watching from streaming and television networks, the way that is no less easy is to use social media.

This method is the most popular because it is practical and convenient. You can watch from your smartphone wherever you are as long as you have an internet connection. Social media that you can use are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and forums such as Reddit.

Indy 500 Date, Start Time, and 2020 TV Coverage Info

March 12, 2020 by Clyde Nelson Leave a Comment

The 2020 Indianapolis 500 will take place on Sunday, May 24, 2020 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. It is one of the major racing events that you don’t want to miss because it is set for 500 miles or 200 laps.

When and where is Indy 500 2020?

Indy 500 is the 500 miles race that always takes place at Indianapolis motor speedway. This event is the core compared to the others. So it won’t be surprising that there will be tons of fantastic racers participating in this event. If you are a big fan of racing, you shouldn;t miss this event.

Indy 500 2020 TV channel

Indy 500 TV channel 2020 had always been the same for over five decades. But in the upcoming race, there’s a change. ABC no longer provides the content. For the first time in the history, NBC has won the bidding and appointed as the one to broadcast the Indy 500 content.

If you already subscribe to a TV cable or satellite, you just need to tune into NBC to watch the big race. Folks who live or travel in the US won’t go wrong with NBC.NBC does not only provide the coverage in the TV, but also its live streaming service and app.

If you are using your laptop or PC, you could visit NBC’s official site and proceed with your credentials to attain the live streaming access. If you don’t have it, some of your fellow friends might want to share it with you.

If you are using your smartphone or tablet to watch the upcoming event, you just need to download and install the app on your device. Then you add the paid service credentials and enjoy the show.

NBC is also available with an over-the-air option. If you own a digital antenna and your device is able to capture the NBC tower’s signal, you will have the chance to watch the show for free, without paying a single dime.

NBC live streaming service is the solution for those who are mobile when the event takes place.

NBC is exclusive in the US. If you are out of the country, you may experience the blackout. Consider to unblock the geo-restriction and unlock the service by using a VPN service.

With the VPN service, you will be able to use the service no matter where you are. Purchase the VPN service, then install the software in your device. Then connect to the US server, and use the NBC service. That’s it. Now, it is your turn to pick your option to watch the upcoming Indy 500.

Where Do You Park For The Indy 500,Camp Cost Info

March 11, 2020 by Clyde Nelson Leave a Comment

When it comes to Indy 500, it is fair for all fans to get closer to the venue. While accomodation of hotel might be too expensive, camping is often the better alternative for attendees. Camping is indeed a cheaper option for all the attendees.

The cost to camp at the Indy 500 will depend on certain variables. For instance, the 4-day pass that costs $70 is available for campers. Meanwhile, the RV drivers could prep between $150-$300 for four days. The cheapest price is $150 which comes with no electricity. For folks who bring their car, you could prep at least $40 to park outside the speedway.

Thousands of folks will flock the venue for the racing event. The event spans for a few days and it won’t come cheap for those who live outside the city.

Besides the camp cost, it is important to know about the other costs like tickets, flights, parking, food, and other expenses.Make sure you have measured your budget before proceeding.

Where do I park for the Indianapolis 500?

Cars parked outside the speedway. It can cost you $40.However, you could opt for VIP parking if you have more in your pocket. VIP Parking is located at the front of the lot near the entrance and exit and port-o-potties.

The check-in is 2 am on the day of reservation. The check out should be no later than 2:00 or else you need to pay for an extra charge.

If you are coming to Indianapolis 500 practice, you can get free parking at the infield of Turn 3. you could ask the question to the staff there and they will gladly help you to direct you. You can enter the area through Gae 2 from 16th street or Gate 10 in the 30th street.

What time do the gates open at the Indy 500?

The gates will open from 10 am to 6 pm local time. To be safe, you could come an hour before the gates open. However, the most ideal time to come is at 10 am.The Daytona 500 itself starts from 2:30 p.m. ET. The green flag will wave at around 3:05 p.m. ET. Daytona 500 will likely start when the sun is there. But be prepared that it will end at night.

What time do gates open for Carb Day?

Carb Day is also one of the most integral parts of Indy 500. therefore, you shouldn’t miss it. Keep in mind that the gates open at 10 am to 6 pm. The concert takes place on May 22, 2020. The performer of the Carb Day is Styx who will perform first at 3:30 p.m. Then REO Speedwagon will be performing at Miller Lite Stage in the Turn 4 or the IMS oval.

Everything You Need to Know About First Indy 500

March 11, 2020 by Clyde Nelson Leave a Comment

The very first Indy 500 race took place in 1959. The organizer set he February 22, 1959, as the date of the first Indy 500 race. However, it was still a long way until the TV covered the show and broadcasted it to the world.

What year was the First Indy 500 Race?

Twenty years after the first race, the race was finally televised. The First Daytona 500 televised was in February 18, 1979.Although the impact and hype of Daytona 500 was significant, the most prevalent moment was in the 1979 Daytona 50. experts, mass media, as well as sports fans around the world noted that the 1979 Daytona 500 is the most memorable moment that set the stock car history. TV covered the race entirely. In fact, it was also the first time that Americans watched the 500-miles race on their TV.

The first edition of Daytona in 1959 attained 41,921 spectators in the venue. But the 1979 Daytona attained even more. Not to mention the number of viewers who watched the spectacle through their TV.

Who Won the First Indy 500?

Lee Petty was the first winner of the Daytona 500. The winner was the driver of no. 42 Oldsmobile. Most of the racing fans might have known about the first winner. But there was a thing back then. Lee managed to win but the officials awarded him three days late. It is because the officials thought that Johny Beauchamp was the winner. But Lee posed in the front of his car right after finishing the lines. He was so sure that he was going to win the race. Officials then made it fair.

First Indy 500 at a Glance

The first Indy 500 took place at Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida, United States.

The distance of the first Indy was 500 miles or 800 km. There were 200 laps divided into three stages: Stage 1 for 60 laps, Stage 2 for 60 laps, and Stage 3 for 80 laps. The stage 1A and 1B were counting for the Qualifying Races for points purposes.

Back then, folks didn’t recognize this race as Indy 500. The previous name was Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes.The most laps led by Jack Smith who managed to attain 57 laps.

The qualifying race winner was Jack Smith.

However, the fastest qualifying lap achiever was Cotton Ownens with 143.198 miles per hour. That was an amazing number in the race world.

The most winning driver for the Daytona 500 is Richard Lee Petty. People called him “The King”.