Round 6: The 100th Indianapolis 500, 16th-29th May.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Round 6: The 100th Indianapolis 500, 16th-29th May.

With the Rookie Orientation Program starting today, along with the first practice session, it's time to start the thread for the big one. The 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Sunday the 29th of May, will see the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the world's oldest tracks that is still in use. In 1905 Indiana businessman Carl G. Fisher, envisioned building a circuit after going to France to watch some of the world's earliest car races. He thought Europe had the upper hand in car design and one of the reasons was the lack of a permanent testing facility, available for American car manufacturers. After another visit to Europe and seeing the banked oval at Brooklands, England, he decided to build his own track.

Fisher convinced local businessmen James A. Allison, Arthur Newby and Frank W. Wheeler to join him in purchasing Pressley Farm, five miles outside of Indianapolis and totaling 328 acres for about $72,000. On March 20, 1909, The Indianapolis Motor Speedway company was incorporated and construction began that month.

The track surface consisted of packed soil covered by two inches of gravel, two inches of limestone covered with a solution of tar and oil, or taroid, one–two inches of crushed stone chips, also drenched with taroid and topped with crushed stones.

The first motorsport event was a series of motorcycle races planned over two days, under the sanction of the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM), starting on August 14, 1909. Concerns about the track surface stopped the event part way through day one. Five days later 15 teams arrived for the first car event, held over three days. This was not without incident. On day one Wilfred Bourque suffered a rear-axle failure, resulting in his car flipping end over end on the main straight, before crashing into a fence post, killing him and his mechanic Harry Halcomb. On day three the right front tire blew on Charlie Merz's car, knocking down five fence posts and dozens of spectators, killing two as well as his mechanic Claude Kellum. Ten laps later, after another accident, the race was cancelled.

The AAA, American Automobile Association, announced it would boycott further events unless the surface was changed. A concrete surface was considered but the track owners decided to pave the entire facility with bricks, after tests proved their durability. Five Indiana manufacturers supplied 3.2 million, 10-pound bricks. Each was hand laid on a 2 inch bed of sand, then leveled and the gaps filled with mortar. A concrete wall 33 inches tall was also constructed in front of the main grandstand and around all four corners to protect spectators. The final brick was made of gold and laid in a special ceremony by Governor Thomas R. Marshall.

In December 1909, the track reopened for testing, with speeds of up to 112 mph being reported. Racing returned the following year, with a series of short races held over the three main holiday weekends: Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. The next year, 1911, racing was confined just to Memorial Day and the very first 500 mile race was held on May 30. It was won by Ray Harroun, a Marmon engineer and former racer who came out of retirement for just one race, driving a Marmon-Wasp. Since then, the event has always been held on the Sunday before Memorial Day and the race has been held every year since 1911, except for 1917-18 and 1942-45, due to World Wars I and II.

Some 500 Trivia:
1911: Ray Harroun was the first winner of the 500, driving a Marmon-Wasp.
Race Time: 6:42:08.039.
Average speed: 74.59 mph (120.04 km/h).

1913: Jules Goux, from France was the first non American to win the Indy 500 and the first rookie winner, excluding the innaugural race.

1922: Jimmy Murphy was the first driver to win the race from pole position.

1939-40: Wilbur Shaw was the first driver to win back to back races.

1947: Mauri Rose and Bill Holland, scored the first team 1, 2 for entrant Lou Moore.

1952: Art Cross won the first Rookie of the Year Award.

1961: Sir Jack Brabham was the first driver to race a rear engined car, a Cooper-Coventry Climax

1965: Jim Clark was the first driver to win in a rear engined car, in the Lotus 38-Ford.

1966: Graham Hill won The 50th Indy 500, in a Lola T90-Ford, the first rookie winner since 1927.

1967: Parnelli Jones raced the first gas turbine powered car, the Granatelli STP-Paxton Turbocar.

1977: Janet Guthrie was the first woman to qualify for the Indy 500.

1992: Al Unser Jr. beat Scott Goodyear by 0.043 seconds in the 500's closest finish.

1992: Lyn St. James wins the first Female Rookie of the Year Award.

1996: Arie Luyendyk sets a new 1 lap track record of 37.895 seconds, 237.498 mph (382.216 kmh) and a new 4-lap track record of 2:31.908, 236.986 mph (381.392 kmh). He also recorded an unofficial 1 lap of 00:37.616 seconds, 239.260 mph (385.052 kmh). Will Arie Luyendyk's 20 year old lap records be finally broken this year? I doubt it.

2001: Hélio Castroneves was the last rookie winner.

2005: Danica Patrick became the first woman driver to lead the Indy 500.

2009: Danica Patrick finished 3rd, the highest position for a female driver.

2011: Dan Wheldon became the only driver to win, leading on just the final lap.

2013: was the fastest race, with a time of 2:40:03.4181 and an average Speed of 187.433 mph (301.644 kmh).

The most wins by any driver is 4, held jointly by:
A.J. Foyt: 1961, 1964, 1967, 1977.
Al Unser Sr.: 1970, 1971, 1978, 1987.
Rick Mears: 1979, 1984, 1988, 1991.

The team with the most wins: Penske, 16.
1972, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1985,
1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1994,
2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2015

The driver/team owner with the most wins: A.J. Foyt.
1964, 1967, 1977.

Current driver with the most wins: Hélio Castroneves.
2001, 2002, 2009.

This year there will be six former 500 winners taking part.
Buddy Lazier, 1996
Juan-Pablo Montoya, 2000, 2015
Helio Castroneves, 2001, 2002, 2009
Scott Dixon, 2008
Tony Kanaan, 2013
Ryan Hunter-Reay, 2014

Track layout:


Length: 2.5 Miles (4.0 Km)

Turns: 4

1 lap record:
Arie Luyendyk, May 10, 1996. 00:37.895 seconds, 237.498 mph (382.216 kmh). Reynard 96i-Ford Cosworth XB, Indy Racing League.

4 lap record:
Arie Luyendyk, May 12, 1996. 2:31.908, 236.986 mph (381.392 kmh), Reynard 96i-Ford Cosworth XB, Indy Racing League.

Last year's winner:
Juan Pablo Montoya,
Team Penske,
Dallara DW12-Chevrolet.

Laps: 200
Distance: 500 Miles (805 km)
Race Time: 3:05:56.5286
Average Speed: 161.341 mph (259.653 kmh).

Race broadcast:
ABC. May 29th, 11:00am EST.

[bjohnsonsmith]

IndyCar are streaming P1 for the Rookie Orientation Program.

http://racecontrol.indycar.com/

[JoestForEver]

Thank you for the brilliant intro !

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by JoestForEver

Thank you for the brilliant intro !

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[bjohnsonsmith]

Marco Andretti sets the pace with a lap of 228.978 mph.

http://www.indycar.com/News/2016/05/...Indy-500-day-1

[canamman]

Graham Rahal has done 256mph (top speed) at Indy.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/video...lis/vi-BBsS4Nw

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by canamman

Graham Rahal has done 256mph (top speed) at Indy.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/video...lis/vi-BBsS4Nw

I wonder what Arie Luyendyk's top speed was, considering he recorded an unofficial 1 lap of 00:37.616 seconds, at 239.260 mph?

[el_cat]

Not sure if I used to imagine it, but in my mind up until fairly recently in the final week of qualifying drivers used to jump into other teams spare cars and have a go at qualifying on Bump Day.

A good underdog story like that would be great to see - its a shame that Bump Day doesn't have the same excitement as before

[canamman]

So its the Fast 9 today ? Got to admit I am a little
bit confused but get the jest of quali. 5 Hondas
and 4 Chevys. Bottom line is 33 will take the green
and the place is sold out for the Greatest Spectacle
in Racing.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Qualifying results. Saturday May 21st:

Despite all the issues surrounding the domed-skids, Honda have 5 cars going into the Fast 9 later on today.

1 James Hinchcliffe, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. Dallara/Honda. 230.946
2 Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport. Dallara/Honda. 230.805
3 Will Power, Team Penske. Dallara/Chevrolet. 230.736
4 Helio Castroneves, Team Penske. Dallara/Chevrolet. 230.500
5 Townsend Bell, Andretti Autosport. Dallara/Honda. 230.452
6 Josef Newgarden, Ed Carpenter Racing. Dallara/Chevrolet. 230.229
7 Mikhail Aleshin, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. Dallara/Honda. 230.209
8 Carlos Munoz, Andretti Autosport. Dallara/Honda. 230.173
9 Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske. Dallara/Chevrolet. 230.102
10 Alexander Rossi, Andretti Herta. Dallara/Honda. 230.047
11 Marco Andretti, Andretti Autosport. Dallara/Honda. 230.037
12 Juan Pablo Montoya, Team Penske. Dallara/Chevrolet. 229.745
13 Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing. Dallara/Chevrolet. 229.496
14 Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing. Dallara/Chevrolet. 229.429
15 J.R. Hildebrand, Ed Carpenter Racing. Dallara/Chevrolet. 229.075
16 Takuma Sato, AJ Foyt Enterprises. Dallara/Honda. 228.096
17 Conor Daly, Dale Coyne Racing. Dallara/Honda. 227.862
18 Sage Karam, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. Dallara/Chevrolet. 227.820
19 Tony Kanaan, Chip Ganassi Racing. Dallara/Chevrolet. 227.679
20 Sebastien Bourdais, KVSH Racing. Dallara/Chevrolet. 227.442
21 Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan. Dallara/Honda. 227.437
22 Bryan Clauson, Jonathan Byrd's Racing. Dallara/Honda. 227.109
23 Spencer Pigot, Rahal Letterman Lanigan. Dallara/Honda. 227.100
24 Oriol Servia Schmidt, Peterson Motorsports. Dallara/Honda. 226.893
25 Charlie Kimball, Chip Ganassi Racing. Dallara/Chevrolet. 226.549
26 Matthew Brabham, Team Murray. Dallara/Chevrolet. 226.389
27 Stefan Wilson, KVSH Racing. Dallara/Chevrolet. 225.559
28 Jack Hawksworth, AJ Foyt Enterprises. Dallara/Honda. 225.387
29 Alex Tagliani, AJ Foyt Enterprises. Dallara/Honda. 224.506
30 Buddy Lazier, Lazier Burns Racing. Dallara/Chevrolet. 224.340
31 Max Chilton, Chip Ganassi Racing. Dallara/Chevrolet. 0.000
32 Gabby Chaves, Dale Coyne Racing. Dallara/Honda. 0.000
33 Pippa Mann, Dale Coyne Racing. Dallara/Honda. 0.000

[bjohnsonsmith]

Sergio Perez, Formula 1 Force India driver says he would like to compete in the Indianapolis 500 at some stage in his racing career.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/124426

[bjohnsonsmith]

More on those domed-skids, as Bobby Rahal says they are skewing the 500 order.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/124432

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by canamman

So its the Fast 9 today ? Got to admit I am a little
bit confused but get the jest of quali. 5 Hondas
and 4 Chevys. Bottom line is 33 will take the green
and the place is sold out for the Greatest Spectacle
in Racing.

I have no idea what's going on with most races anymore and sadly, I can't call it the greatest spectacle in racing anymore, but it sure beats some other events claiming to be "racing".

[canamman]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

I have no idea what's going on with most races anymore and sadly, I can't call it the greatest spectacle in racing anymore, but it sure beats some other events claiming to be "racing".

That's alright brother. Everything has its cycles.
Just remember one thing, in every era, in every sanction,
there have always been those who have said "What the Heck
are we doing?" This Indy will be special I have a feeling.
Now for a week of weather watching - ugh.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by canamman

That's alright brother. Everything has its cycles.
Just remember one thing, in every era, in every sanction,
there have always been those who have said "What the Heck
are we doing?" This Indy will be special I have a feeling.
Now for a week of weather watching - ugh.

I just happened upon quali today. I used to plan around it in May.

True words, tho, sir. It'll be back.

And Indiana weather is bonkers this time of year. Hope they get a dry 500 miles and hope it is indeed a special one. I'll be watching every lap!

[fieldodreams79]

As much as I wanted an American on the pole, it's nice to see the Mayor come back to The Track like this. Good on him.

[skycafe]

Ok, there we go, Pagenaud! Groovy in sportscars, lets get him going on from there!

[Armco Bender]

Me and 40 million sheep say Dixon will win..

[Deleted]

Thanks for the pics Bud

[BudLightJaguar]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Neat. Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by Chiana

Thanks for the pics Bud

I'm glad you guys enjoyed.

So, it's the race day tomorrow. Just in case, I took my 2015 Honda Indy Toronto gear with me. Though I wish those won't be needed.



Fingers crossed, 90F please. Just like on Friday.

[Marcus666]

I guess this is it.

Fingers crossed...

...Montoya!

[Paradise City]

Spine tinglin' listenin' to Mears, Foyt and Unser.

I'd like to see Bell win.

The weather looks ok. Fingers crossed.

[J Jay]

Come on Pagenaud!

After the excellent end to the N24 I'm ready for the 100th.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by J Jay

Come on Pagenaud!

After the excellent end to the N24 I'm ready for the 100th.

After the near perfect N24 coverage, I'm struggling with this awful commentary and advert breaks. :-/

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

After the near perfect N24 coverage, I'm struggling with this awful commentary and advert breaks. :-/

Consider it part of the charm, that's the best advice I can give you!

For one race a year it should be bearable.