IndyCar: Friday Report from The Brickyard Weekend at IMS

Good morning from the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard weekend.  There are three big races this weekend here all running on the road course.  Two of the races will be run on Saturday, the NTT INDYCAR Series Gallagher Grand Prix and the  NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 150.  The NASCAR Cup Series will run the Verizon 200 on Sunday afternoon.

The weather is predicted to be pretty perfect for the next three days.  Highs will be in the middle 80s with zero chance of rain.  Of course, wet weather will not stop the races this weekend but after the wet Grand Prix in May, I am sure the INDYCAR drivers are not looking forward to another soggy race with limited visibility.

Alex Palou, driver of the no 10 The American Legion entry for Chip Ganassi Racing, continues his battle with his current team and his proposed change for the 2023 season.  The Spaniard has commented this week that he will be driving for McLaren Racing next year.

As the legal battle starts between Chip Ganassi Racing, which has the option for 2023, and McLaren racing, which wants to bring Palou into their organization, we have five more races to go in this season.  The 2021 Champion is currently sitting sixth in the points for this season, only 44 points behind his teammate Marcus Ericsson.  A repeat championship is not out of the question.

“I’m so excited to get back to the Indianapolis Road Course. Iowa didn’t work quite well for us, but we kept fighting and got the car back home in one piece. It’s time to push hard. This road course at the beginning of the year was good for us in terms of performance, so can’t wait to go there and show what we’ve got. We’re getting to the end of the season almost; it’s going to go by quickly. It’s time to push hard and get that No. 10 American Legion in victory lane this weekend.”

The only practice session for the INDYCAR is at 9:30 am.  The Firestone Fast Six qualifying is scheduled for 1 pm EDT.

Stay tuned for updates from AR1.

Lucille Dust reporting live from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway