Update from IMS

Will Power currently tops the time sheets.

With low humidity, a gentle breeze, and nary a cloud a sky, it's beautiful spring day here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As I write, Carb Day practice for the Verizon IndyCar is currently under caution for track inspection. Will Power tops the times sheets followed by the four Ganassi cars of Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Charlie Kimball and Sage Karam.

One thing we'll go ahead and pass along is that a few cars are sporting different liveries:

  • The #19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda of James Davison has been outfitted in the very distinct black and aqua Always Evolving colors. We met Davison last year at Detroit and he talked to us about Always Evolving.
  • Although Tristan Vautier qualified Davison's #19, the Frenchman has been enlisted to replace Carlos Huertas in the #18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda. The Colombian was not medically cleared to drive after being diagnosed with an inner ear infection. Vautier's #18 is carrying the standard blue and white DCR colors.
  • Merchant First is being displayed prominently on the now black, white and red #25 Andretti Autosport Honda of Justin Wilson. Also, on the sidepods of Wilson's car is an advertisement for the Rolling Stones concert this summer at IMS.
  • Two cars that look alike (at least to me) are the #4 of Stefano Coletti and #7 of James Jakes. Jakes' SPM Honda prominently features the Oculus branding, and is more of a silver, whereas Coletti's car is more gray.

Moving on, this is the 30th anniversary of Danny Sullivan's famous Spin-and-Win. Sullivan is here at the Speedway as one of the Race Stewards for the weekend.

About 5 minutes remain in the IndyCar practice session. The Freedom 100 gets underway at 12:30 p.m. We'll have more later.

Brian C. reporting from IMS