MAY 13, 2015

(Photo by Mike Harding/IndyCar)
Simon Pagenaud (No. 22 Team Penske Avaya Chevrolet) posted the fastest lap of the month in the final half-hour of practice on Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Pagenaud's top lap was 230.698 mph in windy conditions. "The conditions were difficult," said Pagenaud, who earned $10,000 and the F.E. Harding Fastest Lap Award for topping the chart on Fast Friday. "The conditions were finally hot and there are a lot of differences in how the body kits react depending on the weather. For Team Penske, the biggest thing is we worked really well as a team to get different versions of aero levels for tomorrow and understanding that, so we can look at that information tonight and decide very precisely what we need." Scott Dixon (No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Target Chevrolet) was next quick on Friday at 230.655 mph, followed by Tony Kanaan (No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing NTT Data Chevrolet) at 230.457 mph. Marco Andretti (No. 27 Andretti Autosport Snapple Honda) was fourth overall and the fastest Honda-powered entry on Friday with a lap of 230.312. Also eclipsing the 230 mph barrier were Will Power (No. 1 Team Penske Verizon Chevrolet) at 230.206 mph and Sage Karam (No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Comfort Revolution/Big Machine Records Chevrolet) at 230.166 mph. "It was very slippery," said Karam afterwards. "In qualifying trim in general, the cars are very sketchy. Every lap I was out there, I felt like I was going to crash. Tomorrow's going to be the longest five laps (one warmup lap at speed and four qualifying laps) of my life. The car is really, really fast, but it's on edge. I think we have a good shot at the Fast Nine, which is the goal. I think it will come down to the most fearless driver winning the pole this weekend." Attention now fully shifts to qualifying mode. Two hours of practice are scheduled for Saturday morning, ahead of the six-hour, 50-minute qualifying session that sets the provisional field. All cars return Sunday for qualifying that will set the final starting grid.

(Photo by Chris Jones/IndyCar)
Tristan Vautier (above) will drive the No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda in Indianapolis 500 qualifications this weekend in place of James Davison, who will be competing in a Pirelli World Challenge race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (Mosport). Davison is expected back in the car for the final two practice sessions, on Monday and May 22, before the race on May 24. Vautier, meanwhile, is scheduled to compete in a Blancpain Endurance GT Series event on the same day as the "500." Simon Pagenaud (No. 22 Team Penske Avaya Chevrolet) was quickest on Thursday (May 14) at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 228.793 mph. Carlos Munoz (No. 26 Andretti Autosport AndrettiTV Cinsay Honda) was next up at 228.126 mph. Following Pagenaud and Munoz on the speed chart were Sage Karam (No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Comfort Revolution/Big Machine Records Chevrolet) at 227.683 mph, Scott Dixon (No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Target Chevrolet) at 227.634 mph and Tony Kanaan (No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing NTT Data Chevrolet) at 227.527 mph. Friday marks the final day of practice prior to two days of qualifications that will set the lineup for the 500-mile race on May 24. Josef Newgarden (No. 21 CFH Racing Century 21 Chevrolet) was uninjured when he spun and hit the SAFER Barrier exiting Turn 1 in nearly the same spot where Castroneves' car hit a day earlier. Newgarden's car slid on its top before coming to rest in the short chute between Turns 1 and 2. "I got around pretty quick in Turn 1; it definitely surprised me," Newgarden said. "I knew it happened when it did, so I'm just lucky that everything's good. The Dallara tub held up pretty well. I just want to get back to my guys and see what the damage is. I'm sure it's bad but we'll see what we can do going forward. It was a hard bit, (but) I feel fine." There is definitely a rising tide of concern over the aero package for the Chevrolet powered machines. Two "blow-overs" in consecutive days of practice at The Speedway is a giant bowl of Not Good.

(Photo by Mike Harding/IndyCar)
Speeds continued to climb at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday (May 13th) as Verizon IndyCar Series teams prepared for the 99th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Carlos Munoz (No. 26 Andretti Autosport AndrettiTV Cinsay Honda) set the fastest lap of 39.1098 seconds, 230.121 mph, the first lap over 230 mph for the month. In the final 30 minutes of practice, the fastest lap of the day exchanged hands four times among four drivers. "Really, we were not looking for a tow, we just made a change and said, 'OK let's go in the group and see if we can just cop a tow and feel the car in traffic a little bit,'"said Munoz, who has finished in the top five in each of his two previous Indianapolis 500 starts. "I went back to the pack and it's practice, so whoever gets the best tow is the one who is going to finish first. The positive thing is that I feel really comfortable with the car, the car feels OK. In traffic and by my own, I feel fast. We have to continue working, we have still two days of testing so we have to try some stuff." Townsend Bell (No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold-Kingdom Racing The Robert Graham Special Chevrolet) was second quick (228.969 mph) at the end of the day followed by Tony Kanaan (No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing NTT Data Chevrolet) at 228.172 mph, James Davison (228.043 mph) and Sage Karam (No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Comfort Revolution/Big Machine Records Chevrolet) at 227.822 mph. Helio Castroneves (No. 3 Team Penske Verizon Chevrolet) had a spectacular crash in Turn 1 hitting the SAFER Barrier and becoming airborne just 45 minutes into the day's session. Castroneves was able to return to the track just before it closed and turned a lap of 226.670 mph in a backup car. Pippa Mann was also uninjured after her No. 63 Dale Coyne Racing Honda made contact with the inside SAFER Barrier in Turn 4 and the pit wall attenuator that separates the track from the pit lane. Practice continues through Friday at IMS, with Friday's session again expected to live up to its nickname of "Fast Friday" because engine manufacturers are allowed to increase turbocharger boost pressure from 130 kPa to 140 kPa, which will generate more horsepower and likely higher speeds. Two days of qualifying Saturday and Sunday will set the 33-car grid for the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." After that, all that's left before the May 24 race is afternoon practice on Monday and the traditional Carb Day one-hour practice on May 22.

(Photo by Mike Harding/IndyCar)
Three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves (No. 3 Team Penske Shell V-Power Nitro+ Chevrolet) posted the fastest overall lap as well as the best lap without the aid of a tow from another machine in the third practice session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday in preparation for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Castroneves clocked the quickest overall lap of 227.514 mph less than an hour into day. The aero kits are making a huge difference this year with Castroneves' lap on Tuesday - in just the third practice session - already better than any lap posted through the first five sessions a year ago. Simon Pagenaud (No. 22 Team Penske Avaya Chevrolet), was second fastest overall at 227.382 mph, followed by Scott Dixon (No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Target Chevrolet) at 226.769 mph. Justin Wilson (No. 25 Andretti Autosport Honda) was fourth fastest overall and the quickest Honda-powered machine with a speed of 226.688, just before his engine appeared to let go on the frontstretch of the famous 2.5-mile oval. UPDATE (1:00 p.m., 5/13): Helio Castroneves suffered a big crash in Turn 1 just a few minutes ago, with his machine slamming into the SAFER barrier and then flipping over in mid-air, before landing hard on its rollbar. The No. 3 Team Penske machine rolled over again, ending-up on its wheels. Castroneves was able to get of the car under his own power, and was released from the infield medical center with no injuries reported. -PMD

(Chris Jones/IndyCar)
Sage Karam posted the fastest lap (225.802 mph) in the No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Comfort Revolution/Big Machine Records Chevrolet on Monday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500. "It's only the first day, so it's not about how fast you are today," said Karam, who finished an impressive ninth as a 19-year-old rookie in the 2014 Indianapolis 500. "It's about how fast you are on Sunday in two weeks. It definitely feels good, though. It's the first time I've ever been P1 at the (Indianapolis Motor) Speedway so it's a good feeling." Two of Karam's Chip Ganassi Racing teammates, Scott Dixon (No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Target Chevrolet) and Tony Kanaan (No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing NTT Data Chevrolet), were second (225.293) and third (225.217) on the speed chart, respectively. Marco Andretti (No. 27 Andretti Autosport Snapple Honda) wheeled the first Honda-powered machine, finishing fourth overall for the day at 225.184 mph.

(Photo by Ernie Masche/LAT for GM/Chevrolet Racing)
Will Power (No. 1 Team Penske Verizon Chevrolet V6) followed up his Verizon P1 Award and track qualifying lap record with a dominant victory in the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on Saturday afternoon. Power led 65 of the 82 laps and won by 1.5023 seconds over Graham Rahal (No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Steak 'n Shake Honda V6) on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. It was Power's 25th career victory breaking a tie with Bobby Rahal and Ralph DePalma for 16th on the all-time Indy car list. Power is now tied with Gordon Johncock for 15th place. Power trails Juan Pablo Montoya by five points (171-166) in the championship standings entering the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 24. "I'm halfway there. The Indy 500 is on my mind and I'm very determined to get it done," said Power, who seeks to become the first driver to win on the road course and 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. "In this race, the first lap was as fast as the last lap. Honestly, I think it was staying ahead at the start and the restart and then it was managing that traffic and just the pit sequence.

(Photo by Walter Kuhn/IndyCar)
Graham Rahal (No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Steak 'n Shake Honda V6) had another excellent run in this 2015 Verizon IndyCar season, finishing runner-up for the second consecutive race. "The pit stops were good, we were able to make some moves when we had to," said Rahal, who qualified 17th. "I gave it everything I had, just as at Barber (Motorsports Park on April 26), to catch Power. He was just a little too strong."

(Photo by Ernie Masche/LAT for GM/Chevrolet Racing)
Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 2 Team Penske Verizon Chevrolet V6) races to a third-place finish Saturday in the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, his third podium finish of the season. Montoya leads the Verizon IndyCar point standings heading to the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 24th.

(Photo by Harold Hinson/HHP for GM/Chevrolet Racing)
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Lowe's Chevrolet SS) celebrates his third victory of the 2015 season after winning the SpongeBob Squarepants 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. Johnson held off Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Jimmy John's/Budweiser Chevrolet SS) over the final six laps to win the rain-delayed event. It was Johnson's 73rd career win in NASCAR's premiere series. Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports American Red Cross Chevrolet SS) finished third. "It was a long, hard night," Johnson, who led just 10 laps and who spun-out early in the race, said in Victory Lane. "Once we got up front, we were able to hang on." Read/watch more here.

(BMW)
This weekend marks the 43rd running of the 24-Hour race at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife - aka The "Green Hell". BMW Sports Trophy teams will be represented by six BMW Z4 GT3s competing in the SP9 class. There are also starters in the BMW M235i Racing Cup class, including a BMW M235i Racing entered by BMW Motorsport as a media car, as well as a large contingent of privateers in their BMWs, along with many other makes, including hordes of Porsche 911s. A huge difference this year are actual speed limits on some of the most dangerous sections of the track for safety reasons. This is in response to the tragic accident at the first VLN race of the season at the famous track.

(Bentley)
Bentley Motorsport is also making final preparations for ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race at Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife. The company will run a pair of factory Continental GT3s, as well as a third car entered by Bentley’s European Works-Supported operation, Bentley Team HTP. The No. 85 factory car will feature a special and distinctive green livery based on that of the Bentley Speed 8 that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2003. The No. 85 car will be driven by the three British Bentley Boys – Guy Smith, Andy Meyrick and Steven Kane. The No. 84 car will feature Bentley’s standard Works livery for 2015 and be driven by a team of Nordschleife specialists, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Christian Menzel and Lance David Arnold. Bentley’s progress throughout the race can be followed via the @BentleyComms Twitter feed.

(Jaguar images)
Nine of Jaguar's most celebrated Heritage models from the 1950s will compete in the famed Mille Miglia, including three C-types, three D-types, an XK120, an XK140 and a MK VII. Highlights include C-type 'NDU 289', which competes in 2015 event some 62 years after it raced in the original Mille Miglia, the D-type 'Long Nose' Ecurie Ecosse, which finished in second-place finish at the 1957 Le Mans and the Jaguar works team D-type that won the 12 Hours of Reims in 1956. The Mille Miglia runs from May 14-17, 2015, with a star lineup of drivers coming from motorsport, music and entertainment who will drive the historic Jaguars. 

(Stadium SUPER Trucks)
Robby Gordon and Stadium Super Trucks have been invited to the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed, the world’s largest and most diverse celebration of motorsports history taking place June 25-28 on the English estate of the Earl of March in West Sussex, England. That should shake things up over there.

(Porsche)
Porsche unveiled its 911 GT3 RS racing machine at the Nürburgring. Based on the 911 GT3 RS production sports car, the 911 GT3 R racer develops more than 500HP. According to Porsche, special attention has been paid to lightweight design, better aerodynamic efficiency, reducing fuel consumption, improved handling, optimized safety as well as lowering service and spare parts costs. Too bad Porsche is sticking with its "Porsche Intelligent Performance" graphics treatment, because it has grown to be tedious, if not butt ugly.