Latest news with #PPGPresentsArmedForcesQualifying
Fox Sports
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Instant Recall: PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying
INDYCAR Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge usually is unpredictable, but no one saw this one playing out as it did over the weekend. A rookie driver winning the pole? Robert Shwartzman became the first since 1983 and only the third since 1950. SEE: Starting Lineup A first-year team making its Indy debut atop the scoring pylon? PREMA Racing accomplished something that hasn't been done in 41 years. A one-off team earning the second starting position? There simply isn't a comparison for what Takuma Sato and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing did since Team Penske arrived in the Indy Racing League for the 2001 season. Those were only some of what made PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying unique: Rather than locking out the front row, as Team Penske did a year ago, the most successful team in Indy history will have a significant amount of work to do to score its record-extending 21st '500' victory Sunday. Scott McLaughlin will start 10th after missing the Top 12 round due to an accident. Josef Newgarden and Will Power will roll off in the 32nd and 33rd positions after being penalized Monday for improper modifications to their cars. Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward, who lost the lead to Newgarden on the last lap of last year's race, bounced back to score a career-best qualifying effort in the third spot. Qualifying has never had more international flavor. The top eight positions were earned by drivers from eight different countries: Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Sweden, Spain, United States and Denmark. There are 14 countries represented in this field. While the focus was on the top third of the field, the Last Chance Qualifying round had its unique heavy dose of emotion. Marco Andretti, who won the pole in 2020, had to endure the possibility of not earning a starting position for his 20th '500.' The Andretti Herta w/Marco & Curb-Agajanian driver will take the green flag from the 29th starting spot. He will become the 15th driver to start at least 20 such races. Chip Ganassi Racing's Marcus Armstrong put a Turn 1 crash Saturday behind him well enough to earn a second chance at Indy. He will start 30th. Dale Coyne Racing found itself in a worst-case scenario on Bump Day as Rinus VeeKay and rookie Jacob Abel were left to battle for the final starting position. VeeKay secured it despite withdrawing his posted time and then running slower. Abel had a final chance to bump his way back into the show, but he came up short. VeeKay will start Sunday's race from the 31st position after five previous years in the top seven. The weekend also saw Juncos Hollinger Racing's Conor Daly miss a spot in the Top 12 by only a few feet. He will start 11th in the race now that Team Penske's two drivers have been moved to the last row. Alexander Rossi qualified 14th, the closest Ed Carpenter Racing came to extending its streak of consecutive final-round qualifying efforts to 13 years. He will start 12th. Like Armstrong, Kyffin Simpson of Chip Ganassi Racing, Kyle Larson of Arrow McLaren and Colton Herta of Andretti Global w/Curb-Agajanian overcame crashes to earn their starting positions (13th, 19th and 27th), respectively. Arrow McLaren's Nolan Siegel will start 24th after being the lone driver in last year's field not to make the cut. Four-time Indy winner Helio Castroneves of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian became the first 50-year-old driver to earn a starting position since Lyn St. James in 2000. He will roll off 22nd. Castroneves' effort earned him a fourth opportunity to break the event's all-time record of five victories. He is one of eight former winners in the field, including Newgarden, who has the chance to win an unprecedented third consecutive '500' victory. The other former winners in the field are Sato (starting second), Scott Dixon (fourth for Chip Ganassi Racing), Marcus Ericsson (ninth for Andretti Global), Power, Rossi (12th) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (25th for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing). Shwartzman has a huge head start toward winning the Rookie of the Year Award. The only other first-timers in the field are Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Louis Foster, who earned the 20th starting position, and Siegel. The field is set. 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing' awaits on the weekend. recommended
Fox Sports
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Alex Palou Fastest in Return to Race Trim in Indy 500 Practice
INDYCAR Three-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou returned to the top of the speed charts Monday in 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice, as drivers and teams focused on race setups after two fast and feverish days of qualifying. Series points leader Palou, who has won four of the first five races this season, led at 226.765 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda as drivers ran in thick packs of traffic around the 2.5-mile oval, a marked contrast from the solo contests of pure speed during the last two days of PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying. Palou will start sixth in the race Sunday, May 25. SEE: Practice Results 'A great day for the No. 10 DHL Honda,' Palou said. 'Back to traffic running, and the car felt really good. We ended up P1. It doesn't mean much, but you always take a P1 in any session at the Speedway. 'I'm feeling really comfortable. There's still a lot of work to do, and I guess for everybody else, as well. It's not easy to be in traffic and overtake, but I'm really comfortable. I'm able to overtake. I'm ready for Carb Day.' This was the last on-track session until the final two-hour practice before Race Day, Miller Lite Carb Day this Friday. That session takes place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., followed by the annual Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). Four-time '500' winner Helio Castroneves was second at 226.441 in the No. 06 Cliffs Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian. Castroneves, starting 22nd, is attempting to become the first driver to win 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing' five times. Two-time '500' winner Takuma Sato was third at 226.087 in the No. 75 AMADA Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Sato, 48, or Castroneves, 50, would become the oldest winner in '500' history this Sunday (10 a.m. FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). Jack Harvey, who will start 26th, jumped to fourth in race setup at 226.048 in the No. 24 DRR CUSICK INVEST Chevrolet, the fastest Chevy-powered driver of the day. His teammate, 2014 '500' winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, rounded out the top five at 225.969 in the No. 23 DRR CUSICK WEDBUSH SECURITIES Chevrolet. Shock pole winner Robert Shwartzman, a '500' rookie in his first-ever oval race, ended up 26th at 222.561 in the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet. The two-hour practice took place under partly cloudy skies and air temperatures in the mid-70s. There was one incident, 12 minutes into the session, involving Christian Rasmussen of Ed Carpenter Racing. Rasmussen made light contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2. His No. 21 ECR Splenda Chevrolet then wobbled and spun into the grass on the backstretch and made secondary contact with the inside wall. The car suffered minor damage. Rasmussen was unhurt. recommended
Fox Sports
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Practice Crash Parks Speedy Scott McLaughlin for Top 12 Qualifying
INDYCAR It appears the Top 12 Qualifying session will be reduced to 11 drivers this afternoon during PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge after Scott McLaughlin had a massive crash during pre-qualifying practice. McLaughlin was unhurt in the violent accident, which took place 16 minutes into the one-hour session reserved for the 12 drivers who will vie for the NTT P1 Award for 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.' SEE: Practice Results | Qualifying Format 2024 Indy 500 pole sitter McLaughlin had just turned the fastest lap of the session, 223.553 mph, when his No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet spun in Turn 2 and made hard contact with the SAFER Barrier. The car got airborne and landed on its left side, bouncing onto its wheels and sliding to rest on the apron at the exit of the corner with heavy damage. FOX Sports' broadcast team reported Team Penske General Manager Kyle Moyer indicated McLaughlin will not participate in Fast 12 Qualifying today, focusing instead on being ready for the practice session at 1 p.m. ET Monday. 'I'm really, really, really, really sorry to everyone at Team Penske, my guys on the 3 car, everyone who builds these fantastic cars,' McLaughlin said. 'It (car) was talking to me, and I sort of felt it, and I probably should have backed out. But you're trying to complete a run to see what it feels like. 'Very grateful to INDYCAR, the safety and my team, the SAFER Barriers and all that. Kept me safe. We had a great car, and I just destroyed it.' Top 12 Qualifying starts 4:05 p.m. ET, which will whittle the field to the Firestone Fast Six that will compete for the NTT P1 Award at 6:25 p.m. In between those sessions, Rinus VeeKay and Jacob Abel of Dale Coyne Racing, Marcus Armstrong of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian and 2020 '500' pole sitter Marco Andretti of Andretti Herta w/Marco & Curb-Agajanian will compete for the three final spots in the 33-car starting field in Last Chance Qualifying from 5:15-6:15 p.m. FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network will cover all three qualifying sessions live. Five-time '500' pole winner Scott Dixon was second fastest in the practice on the 2.5-mile oval at 233.240 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Dixon will tie fellow legend Rick Mears with a sixth '500' pole if he secures the top spot today. Pato O'Ward was third at 232.792 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Ten of the 12 drivers who qualified for the Top 12 Qualifying session turned laps today under sunny skies, with air temperatures in the low 70s and northwest winds at 7 mph, gusting to 13 mph. Electing to stay in Gasoline Alley and wait for qualifying were 2022 '500' winner Marcus Ericsson in the No. 28 Allegra Honda of Andretti Global and rookie Robert Shwartzman in the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet. Among the Last Chance Qualifying participants, Andretti was fastest at 229.781 in the No. 98 MAPEI/Curb Honda. Armstrong was right behind at 229.776 in the No. 66 SiriusXM/Root Insurance Honda. Rinus VeeKay was third at 228.988 in the No. 18 askROI Honda, while rookie teammate Jacob Abel's anxiety will rise after he was the slowest of the quartet aiming for three spots, 227.970 in the No. 51 Miller High Life Honda. recommended
Fox Sports
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Kyle Larson Earns 21st Starting Spot after Hectic Qualifying Day
INDYCAR Kyle Larson was being honest Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 'I don't like qualifying here,' he said, forcing a smile that spoke of respect for how challenging these runs can be. '(The runs) just get sketchier each time you go out.' Unfortunate circumstances put the NASCAR Cup Series points leader in the qualifying line one more time than he desired on Day 1 of PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying. The first run on the iconic 2.5-mile oval was straightforward since his Arrow McLaren crew loaded a significant amount of aerodynamic downforce on the No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet to get Larson back in a rhythm following a spin into the Turn 4 wall a day earlier. Larson couldn't describe what chassis changes were made, but he could tell that the car 'cut through the wind a little better.' 'It was good to go faster,' he said without much flair in his voice. As the four-lap average of 230.053 mph ranked 16th of the 17 cars that had completed a run, Larson knew he had to give it another go. The team made adjustments that would help him go quicker, and he did, posting an average of 231.326 mph that elevated him significantly. As it turned out, both qualifying runs would have been enough to earn a starting spot as the top 30 are now guaranteed a starting position in next week's Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. But his efforts were rewarded as the first run would have slotted him 29th. Instead, he will roll off 21st and can bypass Sunday's qualifying in favor of NASCAR's All-Star race later in the evening at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina. Larson was conflicted when asked by FOX Sports if he wanted to make a third attempt. He said he was 'content' with his situation and didn't seem eager to go again, a sign of just how difficult it was for he and others Saturday. Larson is a racer through and through, and last year's debut as an NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver resulted in a fifth-place '500' starting position and a solid run in 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,' although he finished 18th, one of 21 cars finishing on the lead lap. For his quick adaptation to this different form of motorsports, Larson was named the event's Rookie of the Year. 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Larson's return to the '500' has similarities to that of Fernando Alonso. The two-time Formula One champion glided through his rookie May in 2017, qualifying fifth and leading 27 laps in the race. But in Alonso's second try, in 2019, he was bumped from the field by Kyle Kaiser. Larson has earned starting positions both years, but it has been far from smooth sailing. In last month's Open Test at IMS, Larson got his first chance to drive a car using the engine boost that is offered in qualifying. On his first lap, he lost control and slammed the Turn 1 wall, his first such impact in one of these cars. He wasn't injured, but the incident ended his second day sooner than he wanted. Then this week, as he again tried a hot lap with the boost, he spun in Turn 4, hitting the wall hard enough to necessitate more repairs. The two accidents meant that Larson effectively went into qualifying without having made a four-lap simulation run, and he wasn't confident in how to adjust for the additional weight that INDYCAR's hybrid technology has added year over year. 'It was just a bit hectic in qualifying trim for us,' Larson said. 'It was good to maintain some balance and get at least some speed, but it was slow.' Arrow McLaren Team Principal Tony Kanaan is overseeing Larson's program this month, and he said the team purposefully kept the car in a conservative setup to help the star driver. 'We wanted to give him something he could work on and not have it surprise him like (when he crashed),' 2013 '500' winner Kanaan said. 'Look, it's amazing that those (incidents) didn't faze him at all, but the car has to be (predictable), and that's not easy on a day with this wind and how tricky (the rear of the car is) the (heavy) hybrid.' On a scale of 1 to 10 based on difficult conditions at IMS, Kanaan rated Saturday as an 8. Even for a driver with Larson's immense talent, that's a lot to negotiate for someone with so little INDYCAR experience. Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon said he couldn't be more impressed with how Larson has handled this month's challenges – weather, hybrid and bouncing back from crashes. 'I've never seen him rattled about anything,' the NASCAR legend said. 'Kanaan was telling me right after what happened in (the Open Test) that Kyle was itching to go again. That's him. 'Yeah, things have been tough (this year), but you'd never know it by talking to him.' recommended
Fox Sports
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Alex Palou Eyes 2nd Indy 500 Pole after Leading 1st Day of Qualifying
INDYCAR It took Alex Palou just four laps around Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday to tighten his grip even harder on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES this season and zero in on possibly his second career Indianapolis 500 pole. Three-time series champion and current points leader Palou, who has won four of the first five races this season, was the fastest driver on the opening day of PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. He turned a four-lap average speed of 233.043 mph on his only qualifying attempt of the day in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. SEE: Qualifying Results | Qualifying Format Palou's sole attempt came at 1 p.m., two hours after qualifying opened on the 2.5-mile oval with air temperatures around 70 degrees and track temperatures around 100 degrees, about 20 and 35 degrees cooler, respectively, than Fast Friday presented by Turtle Wax practice. Wind speeds picked up to 15-20 mph today, with gusts exceeding 30 mph 'It's tough conditions out there,' Palou said. 'Yesterday it was with the temperature; today it was with the wind. The car has been really good. We were struggling this morning (in practice). I was unable to finish a four-lap (qualifying simulation) run. Now we were able to finish it quite strongly. 'Super happy. I don't know if there's more (speed in the car), but there's always more. The line between more and too much is very thin here at IMS. We'll see what we have for tomorrow.' Palou and the 11 other fastest drivers in nearly six hours of qualifying today will participate in Top 12 Qualifying at 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, which will whittle the field to the Firestone Fast Six that will compete for the NTT P1 Award at 6:25 p.m. In between those sessions, Rinus VeeKay and Jacob Abel of Dale Coyne Racing, Marcus Armstrong of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian and 2020 '500' pole sitter Marco Andretti of Andretti Herta w/Marco & Curb-Agajanian will compete for the three final spots in the 33-car starting field in Last Chance Qualifying from 5:15-6:15 p.m. FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network will cover all three qualifying sessions live. Practice for the Top 12 will take place from 1-2 p.m., with a final practice for the Last Chance Qualifiers from 2-3 p.m. (both sessions FS2, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). Joining 2023 '500' pole winner Palou in the Top 12 Qualifying session Sunday are 2024 pole winner Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske (233.013 Saturday, second), two-time reigning '500' winner Josef Newgarden of Team Penske (233.004, third), Pato O'Ward of Arrow McLaren (232.820, fourth), 2008 '500' winner Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing (232.659, fifth), rookie Robert Shwartzman of PREMA Racing (232.584, sixth), David Malukas of AJ Foyt Racing (232.546, seventh), Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian (232.449, eighth), two-time '500' winner Takuma Sato of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (232.415, ninth), 2018 '500' winner Will Power of Team Penske (232.144, 10th), 2022 '500' winner Marcus Ericsson of Andretti Global (232.132, 11th) and Christian Lundgaard of Arrow McLaren (231.809, 12th). There were 73 qualifying attempts on a hectic day of track activity, none more frantic perhaps than local hero Conor Daly's last-ditch try to earn a spot in Top 12 Qualifying. Indianapolis-area native Daly drove his No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet on the track at 5:46 p.m. ET as the last driver on track before the session ended. Daly already had qualified 21st but was attempting to improve his speed and earn a spot in the top 12 that get a shot at the NTT P1 Award on Sunday. Daly was fast enough to snare the 12th and final spot after three laps, but he slowed on the last trip around the historic oval and ended up 13th with a four-lap average of 231.725 -- .0564 of a second short after 10 miles at top speed. 'I really wanted to get into that Fast 12,' Daly said. 'I investigated holding sixth gear through Turn 1 and 2, and it worked for those middle two laps. But I didn't get the weight jacker back time for Turn 1 on the last lap. Literally, the team deserves to be in the Fast 12. I made the mistake of trying to push it too much and not getting the weight jacker back in time. Just got a little bit tight in (Turns) 1 and 2.' There was further drama under partly cloudy skies. Andretti, grandson of 1969 Indy 500 winner Mario Andretti, made four attempts to try and earn his 20th '500' start but fell short and will fight for a spot Sunday. Graham Rahal, who struggled with car handling all week, was the final driver to earn a guaranteed spot today. He qualified 30th at 229.863 mph in the No. 15 United Rentals Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing on his second attempt, at 3:27 p.m. Then he had an agonizing wait of nearly two and one-half hours to see if his speed would keep him in the field. 'This day didn't start off well, but we found a lot and we improved a lot as this day went on,' Rahal said. 'Our guys kept our cool today and head's down. That beer's going to taste good tonight. I was praying all day somehow this would happen.' Two drivers had mixed results after big crashes earlier in the day. Colton Herta qualified 29th at 230.192 after hitting the SAFER Barrier and flipping upside down in Turn 1 on his first attempt at 12:05 p.m., making secondary contact in Turn 2. The Andretti Global team thrashed to prepare a car for him, and he made the show at 4:45 p.m. Armstrong hit the SAFER Barrier heavily in Turn 1 during pre-qualifying practice this morning in the No. 66 SiriusXM/Root Insurance Honda, which was damaged beyond immediate repair. The Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian crew hustled to convert a road-course car into an oval car in Gasoline Alley, but Armstrong wasn't fast enough in two attempts in the final 55 minutes and will try to gain a starting spot Sunday. 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson qualified 21st at 231.326 in the No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. 2024 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Larson is attempting the 'double' May 25 of racing in the '500' and the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race that evening at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 25 (10 a.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). recommended
