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Fox Sports
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Colton Herta Keeps Andretti Global Rolling with Motor City Pole
INDYCAR While it appeared since the first practice Andretti Global was a favorite for the pole position for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, Colton Herta ended the suspense about which one of the team's drivers would end up on top. Herta repeated as the NTT P1 Award winner for this race on the streets of downtown Detroit, earning his first pole of the season and 15th of his NTT INDYCAR SERIES career with a best lap of 1 minute, .4779 of a second in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda during the Firestone Fast Six. SEE: Qualifying Results The pole came after a bit of a gamble in the final qualifying segment Saturday, as Herta was the only driver to start the session on used primary Firestone Firehawk tires before switching to a new set of the softer but grippier alternate tires early in the session. The other five drivers ran the entire Firestone Fast Six session on a combination of new and used Firestone Firehawk alternates. 'It was such an unknown, and we were not really strong, to be completely honest, yesterday with the softer tires,' Herta said. 'The guys did a great job overnight. The Gainbridge Honda was super fast today. 'Happy to start P1 tomorrow – the best seat in the house. Now we just need a nice, easy race – no yellows, go back to how it was before Indy – and make it easy on us.' Up next is the warm-up session at 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network), followed by the 100-lap race at 12:30 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). David Malukas continued his recent hot streak for A.J. Foyt Enterprises, following his runner-up finish in the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge last Sunday with a career best-tying second qualifying spot at 1:00.6492 in the No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet. That was Malukas' best career qualifying performance on a road or street circuit, as his two previous second-place starts came on ovals. Kyle Kirkwood continued the strong weekend for Andretti Global by qualifying third at 1:00.7312 in the No. 27 Siemens AWS Honda. Kirkwood led practice Friday, while Herta paced the practice session this morning on the nine-turn, 1.645-mile street circuit. Christian Lundgaard will join Kirkwood in Row 2 after qualifying fourth at 1:00.8938 in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Starting on the inside of Row 3 will be Graham Rahal, who qualified fifth at 1:01.0651 in the No. 15 JJ Curran Crane Company Honda. That strong effort continued Rahal Letterman Lanigan's recent unlocking of more speed on circuits with left and right turns, as Rahal qualified second earlier this month for the Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Series points leader Alex Palou rounded out the Firestone Fast Six at 1:01.4680 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Palou has won five of the first six races this season, including the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge last Sunday for his first career oval victory. While sixth tied Palou's second-worst qualifying performance this season, it was a solid recovery from the first two practices in which he ranked 15th and 12th, respectively. Palou leads second-place Pato O'Ward of Arrow McLaren by a staggering 112 points – more than two races' worth – after just six of 17 races this season. O'Ward failed to advance out of the first round of qualifying and will start 18th in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. recommended
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Roger Penske Talks Big Indy 500 Rating, Sellout And Team Penske Moves
Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske gives the command, 'Drivers, Start Your Engines" at ... More the 109th Indianapolis 500 on May 29, 2025 DETROIT – Last Sunday's 109th Indianapolis 500 included a grandstand sellout of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time since 2016, and FOX Sports produced the largest television audience for an Indy 500 in 17 years. With 7.01 million viewers, including a peak audience of 8.05 million from 4:15 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske could take a victory lap. 'Well, when it comes down to FOX, they were outstanding,' Penske told me in an exclusive interview in Detroit. 'They told me when we originally shook hands to put the relationship together that they'd take the sport to the next level. 'And when I saw some of the advertisements for the race during the Super Bowl, I told FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks, 'You are a man of your word.' 'From that point on, you could see the momentum that we had with the race, the TV, the coverage, the celebrities, the Blackhawk helicopters on the Parade Lap. 'And guess what? 'Legitimately over 330,000 people were at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and to sell out the grandstands was just amazing.' Penske is one of the world's great businessmen and one of the top industrialists in the United States. The Penske Corporation has 77,000 employees worldwide specializing in the transportation industry. But his love is the Indianapolis 500, and the 88-year-old Penske loved what he saw last Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 'When you think about the fans themselves, the demographics and the kids and the people were there, you have to be there and look at the impact that it has for the State of Indiana,' Penske told me. 'Probably $1 billion dollars coming out of that race weekend and the rest of things we do there. 'So, I could only say FOX was a great quarterback.' The Indianapolis 500 is cool again among the younger generation and that is important because it was always deemed cool from younger fans beginning after World War, II to the mid-1990s. Then came the infamous, split between CART and the Indy 500 over the creation of the Indy Racing League. But in recent years, more younger fans are turning out at the Indianapolis 500 and that is very important to the rise of success that continues to happen at Indy in May. That is also evident by the television numbers as FOX brings a more youthful approach to its telecasts of the NTT IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. 'I think one thing you've got to take a look at is that the 18- to 36-year-olds was up 100 percent when you looked at TV audience,' Penske said. 'I would say that we also had a tremendous amount of young people, a lot more women than we've had in the past. So, the sport I think is resonating across, many different age groups, certainly from the standpoint of the fan base. 'But more important, the fact that we were able to deliver an event like that on Memorial Day, for the men and women in our military, the first responders. 'When you look at the outcome, I think our team, Doug Boles (IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President), Mark Miles (Penske Entertainment CEO), the whole team there did an outstanding job.' The race day experience is also bigger and better than ever. That was one of Penske's visions when he purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from the Hulman-George Family on November 4, 2019. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the 2020 Indy 500 to be held without spectators, Penske plan to improve the race day experience is his No. 1 priority. 'Well, I think it's come together very steady, and we're not done yet because what we are concerned about, how do we make the guests, the fans, have a greater experience?' Penske responded. 'And that certainly is what we're trying to do, and I think we're accomplishing that each and every race.' As the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar and the Indianapolis 500, the Month of May was a big success for Penske. But as team owner of Team Penske, he was forced to dismiss three key members of management after the team was rocked by a second scandal in as many years. Last year, it was manipulation of the push-to-pass system in the season-opening race at St. Petersburg. Penske suspended team leadership from being at Indy in 2025. When a second scandal hit on Pole Day when the teams for the No. 2 Chevrolet for Josef Newgarden and the No. 12 Chevrolet for Will Power had modified the rear attenuator, Penske took strong and decisive action. Team Penske IndyCar President Tim Cindric, along with the team's Managing Director Ron Ruzewski and General Manager Kyle Moyer were dismissed from the team. I asked Penske how important it was to get out in front of that and regain control of what had happened at Team Penske, he gave a short, but direct, response. 'Well, I think it's all been said,' Penske said. 'I don't think I have to say it again. 'We understand the penalty. We accepted the penalty, and we're moving on.' Penske gave high praise for this year's Indianapolis 500 winner, Alex Palou of Spain. He is proving that he is a generational talent and could ultimately become one of the greatest drivers in IndyCar history. But Penske gave even higher praise to team owner Chip Ganassi. 'Remember, it takes a team to make a winner, and I'd have to say, Ganassi is a pro team,' Penske told me. 'They've had success at Indy and obviously winning a number of IndyCar Series championships, so I think the combination is first class. 'They are going to be tough to beat all year.' Penske has made a career by being tough to beat, both in business and in racing. As a team owner, he has won a record 20 Indy 500s. Penske knows a winner when he sees one and this year's Indy 500 was a big win for his organization, for FOX and for IndyCar fans. For just the third time in the last three decades, Sunday's Indianapolis 500 will be the most watched motorsports event on American television as 7.01 million viewers tuned into the FOX broadcast with a peak of 8.5 million for the climactic ending from 4:15 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. By comparison, 6.4 million viewers watched February's Daytona 500, also on FOX. The only other times the Indy 500 has received a higher rating than the Daytona 500 was in 1995 and 2021. It was also the most-watched Indianapolis 500 in 17 years (7,245,000 viewers in 2008). This is the first year all IndyCar Series races are broadcast on FOX including the Indianapolis 500. The network has aggressively promoted the NTT IndyCar Series and interest level in this form of racing appears to be on the rise. It was also the first time since the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016 that all grandstand seats were sold out. Indianapolis Motor Speedway President and IndyCar Series President Doug Boles announced the attendance at 350,000 spectators during Monday night's Indianapolis 500 Victory Celebration at the JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. The Indianapolis 500 purse record was broken for the fourth year in a row for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, with first-time winner Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing earning $3.8 million from a total purse of $20,283,000. It was the largest purse in the century-plus history of 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing' on the heels of four consecutive record-breaking years. This year's average payout for NTT IndyCar Series drivers was $596,500, which also exceeds last year's average of $543,000. In 2024, the Indianapolis 500 purse was $18,456,000, and the year's winner payout was $4.3 million, which included a $440,000 roll-over bonus from BorgWarner for earning back-to-back wins. In 2023, the Indianapolis 500 purse was $17,021,500, and the winner earned $3.7 million. In 2022, the Indianapolis 500 purse was $16,000,200, and the winner earned $3.1 million. Prior to 2022, the largest Indianapolis 500 purse was $14.4 million for the 2008 Indianapolis 500.
Fox Sports
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Colton Herta Rises to Top as Andretti Global Stays Quick at Detroit
INDYCAR A second Andretti Global driver has stepped to the fore, as Colton Herta led pre-qualifying practice for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on Saturday morning. Herta produced the top lap of the one-hour session on the nine-turn, 1.645-mile downtown street circuit, 1 minute, 1.7823 seconds, in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. That's just slightly slower than the top lap of the weekend turned Friday by his teammate Kyle Kirkwood, 1:01.7509, as air temperatures this morning hovered in the mid-50s under overcast skies. SEE: Practice Results Scott McLaughlin stayed in the No. 2 position for a second straight session in the No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet with his top lap of 1:01.8995. Kirkwood stayed sharp, ending up third at 1:01.9423 in the No. 27 Siemens AWS Honda. Callum Ilott brought PREMA Racing closer to the front of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES grid for the second straight weekend by ending up fourth at 1:02.1450 in the team's No. 90 Chevrolet. Ilott's rookie teammate, Robert Shwartzman, was the shock pole winner for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Rookie Louis Foster, the 2024 INDY NXT by Firestone champion, enjoyed one of his strongest sessions of the season. He rounded out the top five at 1:02.1696 in the No. 45 Mi-Jack Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Alex Palou continued to struggle for the first time this season. Palou, who has won five of the first six races this season, managed to improve to 12th at 1:02.5318 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda after ending up 15th out of 27 drivers Friday. Up next is NTT P1 Award qualifying at noon ET (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). The 100-lap race starts at 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday (FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). recommended
Fox News
a day ago
- Health
- Fox News
FOX Sports, Purple Heart Homes help repair homes of 4 vets during Indy 500 week
Sunday's 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 was an eventful day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as Álex Palou won his sixth race of the INDYCAR season, but there was something just as important happening off the track in the days leading up to the race. FOX Sports teamed up with Purple Heart Homes to help renovate and restore the homes of four veterans in the Indianapolis community ahead of the 2025 Indy 500. The work, which included roof and floor replacements, bathroom renovations and more, was commended by Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, who declared the week prior to race week "Purple Heart Homes & Partners Veteran Impact Week." "This collaboration between FOX Sports, Purple Heart Homes and Home Repairs for Good is exactly the type of public-private partnership that Indianapolis is known for," Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said of FOX Sports and Purple Heart Homes' efforts. "To see this partnership project result in life-changing home improvements for some of our city's bravest heroes is truly inspiring. The City of Indianapolis and our Office of Veteran's Affairs are grateful to all those who helped make this dream a reality." Gary Dean, a U.S. Army veteran, was one of the four people who had their homes renovated through FOX Sports and Purple Heart Homes' efforts. Dean has faced homelessness and battled congestive heart failure in recent years, with his health issues and financial difficulties preventing him from repairing the leaking roof of the home he's lived in over the last five years. He is also the primary caregiver for his best friend, who is battling Stage 4 cancer. "With her, I just can't see what she was going through without somebody stepping up and not helping out," Dean said. "I've just gotta help." Thanks to FOX Sports and Purple Heart Homes, Dean's home got the roof repair he's long needed. "Purple Heart Homes and FOX Sports stepped up, put a new roof on my home for me and took a huge weight off my shoulders," Dean said. It will keep me in my home for many more years and keep me out of assisted living in the future. They just stepped up big time. … I can't appreciate them enough." Kevin Smith, who is also a U.S. Army and National Guard veteran with a total of 10 years of service, needed his kitchen flooring replaced. He also needed major bathroom renovations as the room was inoperable for over five years. A lifelong resident of Indianapolis, Smith's family is of great importance to him. He met his wife 50 years ago through his neighbors, and the couple has seven children, with six of them still living in Indiana. So, when FOX Sports and Purple Heart Homes were able to do the necessary renovations to Smith's home, he couldn't help but think about the future functions he could finally have at his house again. "I don't want to complain," Smith said. "You want to row the boat instead of trying to rock it. We have not been able to have family over for Christmas for five years and we can't wait to spend time with them in our home." Donald Covington, a U.S. Marine veteran, was injured during his time in combat, but has persevered. He was stabbed 13 times during his line of duty. Unfortunately, Covington has still had to fight in the years since he was deployed. He suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is battling prostate cancer. Covington's 22-year-old daughter, Lilly, still lives with him. However, the two needed renovations done to the roof of their home with water intrusion threatening its structural safety. Luckily, they were able to get the help they needed thanks to the initiative from FOX Sports and Purple Heart Homes. "All I can say is, everything was great!" Covington said. "I knew I wasn't able to make the repairs. I didn't know where help would come from, but it showed up with you showing up [Purple Heart Homes]. I'm just so thankful. Thank you just so, so much." The fourth veteran, who served in the U.S. Army, opted to remain anonymous. FOX Sports and Purple Heart Homes both felt it was vital to help those who served the country in the lead-up to the Indy 500, which is annually held on Memorial Day weekend. "It's an honor to work alongside Purple Heart Homes to improve the quality of life for veterans in Indianapolis by providing the housing solutions they need to thrive in their communities," FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks said in a statement. "The partnership between FOX Sports and Purple Heart Homes is central to our efforts to serve the military heroes who selflessly served us." "This work is about restoring dignity, independence and peace of mind to the people who have given so much to our country," Purple Heart Homes Board chair Dave Sternberg added. "We are honored by the continued partnership of FOX Sports and look forward to what lies ahead in our growing collaboration with Home Repairs for Good." Dean's story was featured during FOX's broadcast coverage of the Indy 500, and the veterans got to spend time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the weekend of the race thanks to FOX Sports and INDYCAR, touring the track and FOX Sports' set at the track. Now, the four veterans can watch all INDYCAR races from the comfort of their own homes without worry. They can also take in the Indiana Pacers' playoff run, too. Smith was wearing a Pacers t-shirt when Purple Heart Homes made the proper repairs to his home. Above all, these veterans are thankful that they've been recognized for their service to their country. "You get a lot of tip of the hats and thank yous when people recognize you as a veteran," Dean said. "I think that's as much appreciation as I need." Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes on flag football: 'I'll leave that to the younger guys'
Flag football will debut as an Olympic event at the 2028 Summer Olympics, but Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes doesn't expect to be slinging passes in Los Angeles. "I'll probably leave that to the younger guys. I'll be a little older by the time that comes around," Mahomes said about playing flag football in the 2028 Summer Olympics on Thursday, according to FOX Sports NFL Reporter Henry McKenna. Mahomes will be 32 by the time that the 2028 games commence. Last summer, the NFL named Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts as the Olympic flag football ambassador. As for Mahomes, the two-time NFL MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP totaled 3,928 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 93.5 passer rating last season, while completing 67.5% of his passes in a 15-2 campaign for the Chiefs. He also rushed for 307 yards and two touchdowns. Mahomes ranked second among quarterbacks in rushing grade (91.5), 10th in overall grade (85.8) and 14th in passing grade (79.1), according to Pro Football Focus. Of course, while they were the No. 1 seed in the AFC, Mahomes and the Chiefs lost to the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, 40-22, ending their three-peat aspirations. The Eagles' win got them even with the Chiefs, who beat the former in Super Bowl LVII. The two teams will run it back in Week 2 of the 2025 season, as the Chiefs host the Eagles on Sept. 14 (4:25 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Football League Kansas City Chiefs Patrick Mahomes recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
