Indy 500 practice begins earlier, runs later
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| More practice in front of empty grandstands |
Indianapolis Motor Speedway will experiment with a May schedule that includes the earliest Indianapolis 500 practice in years and later-than-usual practice on one day.
The debut of IndyCar's new oval-track bodywork kits will come with an open test on May 3. The Sunday session will run from 1-6 p.m., and it should be a preview of the speed increases to come later in the month.
After the second Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, a road course event held May 7-9, IMS will take Mother's Day off to convert the facility to oval-track configuration. Official 500 practice begins Monday, May 11, first with a rookie session at noon and then a 4-7 p.m. open practice.
The track has traditionally closed at 6 p.m. Running later that day is designed to see if an after-work crowd materializes.
"It will be interesting to see how that helps folks come out after work," IMS President Doug Boles said.
Boles thinks the two-day qualifying format that puts pole day on Sunday will be better in its second year now that more people understand it. On Saturday, teams will be looking to earn a spot in the pole-deciding Fast Nine.
The post-qualifying practice returns for a second year. Last year, it was the second-busiest day of action with 2,329 laps turned.
The 99th 500 is May 24 at noon.
THE SCHEDULE
May 3: IndyCar open test (oval)
May 7-9: Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis (road course)
May 11: IndyCar rookie session (noon-3 p.m.), full practice (4-7 p.m.)
May 12-15: IndyCar practice (noon-6 p.m.)
May 16: IndyCar qualifications
May 17: Old National Armed Forces Pole Day
May 18: IndyCar practice (1-5 p.m.)
May 20: Community Day (no racing activity)
May 21: Indy Lights practice and qualifications
May 22: Coors Light Carburetion Day (includes final IndyCar practice, TAG Heuer Pit Stop Challenge, Indy Lights race, concert TBA)
May 23: Legends Day honoring Al Unser, plus concert TBA (no track activity)
May 24: Indianapolis 500 (noon) Indy Star