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Filed under: Penske Racing, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IRL, Indianapolis 500

Mother Nature hasn't taken kindly to the newly-shortened schedule for the 94th Indianapolis 500, but she figures to cooperate for this weekend's two days of qualifications.

A very slight chance of rain exists early Saturday morning, but by the time Pole Day qualifying begins at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, skies are expected to be clearing. Highs in the 80s and sun are expected for Sunday's Bump Day.

The shortened schedule -- instituted as a cost-saving measure both for the track and the competing teams -- effectively dropped a weekend of qualifying and nearly a week of practice from the traditional IMS schedule. When qualifying wraps on Sunday, the 33 starters will only have just one hour of practice remaining next Friday before the race two days later.

 

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Filed under: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IRL, Danica Patrick, Indianapolis 500

Practice for the May 30 Indianapolis 500 has begun at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and after two rain-interrupted days on track this weekend, the leader board will surprise no one.

Defending race winner Helio Castroneves has started his quest for a record-tying fourth victory by posting the fastest speed to date with a lap of 227.046 mph in his No. 3 Team Penske Dallara-Honda. The previous two Indy winners, Target Ganassi teammates Scott Dixon (226.202 mph) and Dario Franchitti (226.044), are ranked second and third.

The only major incident in more than 1,900 total laps turned on Saturday and Sunday -- despite the rain -- was when 2004 winner Dan Wheldon's No. 4 National Guard Honda hit the wall exiting Turn 4 on Sunday. He suffered a bruised foot but was expected to be back on track Monday should the rainy weather clear long enough for practice.

All seven first-year drivers completed Indy's unique Rookie Orientation Program, with Jay Howard and Simona de Silvestro posting the fastest laps of that group.

Noticeably absent from her usual spot near the top of Indy's speed charts was Danica Patrick, whose best lap (223.651 mph) was only 15th fastest.

 

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Filed under: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, FanHouse Exclusive, IRL

In his first in-depth interview since his June 30, 2009 dismissal as CEO of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and his subsequent resignations from the Hulman & Co. board of directors and as CEO of the Indy Racing League he founded, Tony George tells FanHouse how he's spent the past few months and how he is adjusting to his new roles in business, racing and family.

INDIANAPOLIS -- When Tony George resigned from the Indy Racing League in January, it came at a time, he says, when "there was still too much to do that I wanted to see through."

The former leader of American open wheel racing tells FanHouse of how difficult it was to give up the leadership of the IRL, the organization that he started. He calls accusations that he brought financial hardship to the IRL "wildly inaccurate," and says he "spent a lot less that it would have taken" to buy a professional sports team.

He talks of his love for IndyCar racing and tells of how he caught a pre-dawn commercial flight to
St. Petersburg, Fla., just after returning from a business trip in China, in an effort to catch the race
there in person.

In this first of two parts, George explains what he thinks is "the best thing that's happened for
Danica" this season and also predicts a 2010 breakout star. And the answers may surprise you.

George officially resigned from the IRL on his 50th birthday, Dec. 30, and when he returns to The
Speedway for the May 30 Indianapolis 500, his only responsibility, for the first time in his life,
will be that of team owner.

Through weeks of phone calls, a sit-down interview at George's Indianapolis-based Vision Racing
team headquarters, and pages of thoughtful written replies to questions, George discusses a wide
range of topics with senior writer Holly Cain.

One of the most significant -- and controversial -- figures in American motorsports during the
past 20 years, George is now eager to set the racing record straight in a lengthy and comprehensive interview that will be presented in two parts Tuesday and Wednesday:

 

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