Morning update from IMS (2nd Update)

UPDATE Tim Whiting, Dale Coyne Racing chief mechanic of the No. 63 Susan G. Komen Honda driven by Pippa Mann, was named recipient of the Clint Brawner Mechanical Excellence Award. The honor goes annually to the Indianapolis 500 chief mechanic who exemplifies the mechanical excellence, ingenuity and perseverance similar to that of legendary mechanic Clint Brawner. The award, sponsored by Firestone Racing, includes a $5,000 prize and the winner's name inscribed on a trophy that permanently resides in the IMS Museum.

Kody Swanson of Kingsburg, California, became a three-time winner of the Hoosier Hundred U.S. Auto Club Silver Crown race at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, claiming Thursday's race for the third consecutive year. Bryan Clauson, who will compete in the Indianapolis 500 for Dale Coyne/Jonathan Byrd's Racing, finished fourth.

The Tatuus USF-17 chassis that will debut in 2017 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda competition was unveiled today at IMS. It will be the series chassis for at least five years, following testing and development this summer.

05/27/16 UPDATE Word here today is that as many as 350,000 are expected on race day, which includes reserved seats + suites + general admission. The Carb Day crowd is larger than any Carb Day crowd since the CART days. A fair number of people say this is the first time they have attended the 500. Hopefully they become new fans. Word is the Hondas have more power than the Chevys this year, but the Chevy Aero package is better. Chevy is hoping for a hot day Sunday because they feel that will put a premium on handling and that is where the aero package comes in. Mark Cipolloni reporting from Indy

05/27/16 Good morning from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It's a warm, hazy morning here in Speedway on Miller Lite Carb Day, with temperatures expected to climb as high as 89 degrees this afternoon. We walked through Gasoline Alley after breakfast where the Verizon IndyCar Series teams were preparing for today's final practice for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, scheduled to get underway at 11 a.m.

The Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires Freedom 100 gets underway at 12:30 p.m. with the TAG Heuer Pit Stop Challenge following at 2 p.m. The day's headline concert act Journey will take the stage in the Turn 4 concert venue at 4:30 p.m.

We bumped into Dale Coyne Racing team owner Dale Coyne after breakfast. Coyne was a hair disappointed with last week's qualifying but seemed to be confident his four-car team will have strong race cars Sunday. We also asked if Gabby Chaves will be in the No. 19 Honda next week in Detroit. "I think so," answered the never overly-committal Coyne.

The new U.S. F2000 car is being unveiled currently downstairs in Pagoda Plaza. We hope to have some pictures available shortly.

Otherwise, as I look out over the front stretch here in the IMS Media Center, people seem to be steadily filing in to a noticeably upgraded Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We'll have more later.

Brian Carroccio reporting from IMS