Category: NTT Indy

INDIANAPOLIS – Results of qualifying Sunday for the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge NTT INDYCAR SERIES event on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with rank, car number in parentheses, driver, engine, time and average speed of four-timed laps in parentheses:

1. (98) Marco Andretti, Honda, 02:35.7985 (231.068 mph)
2. (9) Scott Dixon, Honda, 02:35.8098 (231.051)
3. (30) Takuma Sato, Honda, 02:36.0300 (230.725)
4. (21) Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, 02:36.0438 (230.704)
5. (28) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Honda, 02:36.0818 (230.648)
6. (29) James Hinchcliffe, Honda, 02:36.6103 (229.870)
7. (55) Alex Palou, Honda, 02:36.7425 (229.676)
8. (15) Graham Rahal, Honda, 02:36.9450 (229.380)
9. (27) Alexander Rossi, Honda, 02:37.0446 (229.234)
10. (88) Colton Herta, Honda, 02:35.9962 (230.775)
11. (8) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 02:36.1374 (230.566)
12. (45) Spencer Pigot, Honda, 02:36.1557 (230.539)
13. (1) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 02:36.3203 (230.296)
14. (10) Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, 02:36.3491 (230.254)
15. (5) Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet, 02:36.3769 (230.213)
16. (20) Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, 02:36.3781 (230.211)
17. (26) Zach Veach, Honda, 02:36.5484 (229.961)
18. (47) Conor Daly, Chevrolet, 02:36.5525 (229.955)
19. (18) Santino Ferrucci, Honda, 02:36.5736 (229.924)
20. (60) Jack Harvey, Honda, 02:36.6161 (229.861)
21. (7) Oliver Askew, Chevrolet, 02:36.6852 (229.760)
22. (12) Will Power, Chevrolet, 02:36.7252 (229.701)
23. (14) Tony Kanaan, Chevrolet, 02:37.0993 (229.154)
24. (41) Dalton Kellett, Chevrolet, 02:37.2880 (228.880)
25. (22) Simon Pagenaud, Chevrolet, 02:37.3180 (228.836)
26. (66) Fernando Alonso, Chevrolet, 02:37.3646 (228.768)
27. (51) James Davison, Honda, 02:37.3789 (228.747)
28. (3) Helio Castroneves, Chevrolet, 02:37.6368 (228.373)
29. (4) Charlie Kimball, Chevrolet, 02:38.0625 (227.758)
30. (59) Max Chilton, Chevrolet, 02:38.3789 (227.303)
31. (24) Sage Karam, Chevrolet, 02:38.5210 (227.099)
32. (67) JR Hildebrand, Chevrolet, 02:39.0518 (226.341)
33. (81) Ben Hanley, Chevrolet, 02:41.4948 (222.917)

Iconic name celebrates 75 years of history at Indianapolis in 2020

INDIANAPOLIS (13 August 2020) – An Indianapolis Motor Speedway tradition older than the singing of “Back Home Again in Indiana” and the balloon release continues when the Justice Brother’s returns as a participant for the 75th for the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 next Sunday.

An international manufacturer of additives, lubricants, and cleaners, the Justice Brothers got their start in the automotive and racing world when Ed and Zeke Justice built their first race car in 1936.

The family-owned and operated automotive products business began its motorsports involvement at the local short track level.  The company relocated from California to Jacksonville, Florida in the late 1940s, sponsoring NASCAR pioneers including the Flock brothers, Lee Petty, Red Byron, Buck Baker, Curtis Turner and Fireball Roberts.

The Justice family has been involved in the Indianapolis 500 ever since 1946, when  Zeke Justice was a member of George Robson’s winning team. 

That first Indianapolis outing started the family legacy, and the Justice Brothers name has now been involved with more than 70% of all Indianapolis 500s ever run, making it one of many long-established traditions that are part of the history and lore of the once a year event.  “Back Home Again” was first part of the pre-race ceremonies the following year, with the balloon release first held in 1948. 

Bayless Leverett drove the first Justice Brother’s-sponsored entry in the 1949 Indianapolis 500, and drivers and teams sponsored by the Justice family reads like a “who’s who” in American motorsports, including Frank Kurtis, Johnnie Parsons, Freddie Agabashian, Jim Rathmann, the Granatelli brothers, Johnny Rutherford, A.J. Foyt, P.J. Jones, Andretti Autosport, Eddie Cheever, Steve Kinser, Buddy Rice, Buddy Lazier and Jeff Ward.

The family involvement has taken on a wide range of forms through the years at the Brickyard, from building cars for the race to being on the pit crews to team sponsorship. This year, the tradition continues with Justice Brothers sponsoring the two-car entry of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing as well as the single-car effort from Meyer Shank Racing.

The Justice Brother’s were sole sponsors of Frank Kurtis’s Indianapolis  car program, including 1950 Indianapolis  500 winner Parsons. Two years later, they sponsored the second-place finisher, the Granatelli brothers entry driven by Rathmann.

In the 1960s, the family teamed with legendary car builder A.J. Watson, whose cars won six Indianapolis 500s.

The 1970s brought a relationship with Jim Gilmore on Foyt’s legendary Coyote. The Justice family logo rode on the side of Foyt’s fourth 500 victory in 1977, and his 30th 500 in 1987. In recent years, the team has sponsored drivers including P.J. Jones, Townsend Bell, Sage Karam and J.R. Hildebrand.

In addition to the outstanding tradition at the Brickyard, Justice Brothers-sponsored entries have excelled in other forms of American motorsports. 

Last year, Justin Lofton became the first three-time overall champion of the Mint 400 off road race, while Brendan Gaughan and Jake Gaughan were Class 1 Champions of the Baja 1000. Justice Brothers sponsored Kalitta Motorsports NHRA Funny Car world titles for Del Worsham in 2015 and J.R. Todd in 2018. Their drag racing involvement dates back to being the first paid sponsor for the legendary Don Garlits.

In major American sports car competition, Wayne Taylor Racing’s CadillacDPi Prototypes captured the overall victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2017, 2019 and 2020. Justice Brothers also won the Prototype Challenge title at the prestigious event in 2016 and 2017. In addition, Justice Brothers-sponsored teams also won recent titles in Pirelli World Challenge, Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Porsche Trophy West.

Justice Brothers also backed Rhys Millen’s winning cars at Pikes Peak in 2015 and 2017, and sponsored the winning Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team to the 2016 Red Bull Global Rally Cross Lights championship.

“It is amazing to consider that the Justice Brothers name has been a part of this incredible race for 75 years,” said President and CEO of Justice Brothers, Inc., Ed Justice, Jr. “We’ve been fortunate to have Justice Brothers factory teams win everywhere from Daytona to Pikes Peak, but Indianapolis is really something special,  as we’ve been a part of it for so long. We’ve done a little bit of everything at Indianapolis through the years, and it is impossible to say how much this race means to our company and to our family. We’re really excited for this year’s race even though it is being run under such different circumstances.” 

 The 104th Indianapolis 500 will be broadcast live on NBC starting at 1:00 PM ET on August 23rd. 

Connect with us on:
Facebook: JusticeBrothersInc
Twitter: @JusticeBrosInc
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About Justice Brothers:
Justice Brothers, Inc. is a manufacturer and worldwide distributor of over 100 car care products, fleet, farm, and industrial lubricants and cleaners. Since their beginnings in the additive industry, the Justice Brothers Corporation has been an innovator in the development of new and better products to solve problems in the automotive service industry. During their over 85 years in the automotive industry, Justice Brothers has built a large and loyal customer base that encompasses quick lubes, dealerships, and independent auto stores.

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020 – 1957 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Don Edmunds, also renowned as a race car builder after his driving career, died Aug. 11. He was 89.

Edmunds was the second-oldest living “500” starter behind 94-year-old Paul Goldsmith. With Edmunds’ passing, Goldsmith and A.J. Foyt are the only living drivers who started in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in the 1950s, both making their debuts in 1958.

Southern California native Edmunds earned Rookie of the Year honors after placing 19th in the No. 92 McKay Special, spinning out due to an oil leak after completing 170 laps. He was the top-finishing rookie that year among five first-timers in the race.

Edmunds nearly didn’t qualify for the “500” in 1957. He came to the Speedway after a successful career in jalopy and midget-car racing in California, driving a car owned by Doug Caruthers. Edmunds couldn’t get that car up to speed but got a late call from car owner Roy McKay to jump into a car that already had made two of its three allotted qualifying attempts.

After being summoned by McKay, Edmunds rushed to grab his helmet from the trunk of his car in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway parking lot, hoping another driver didn’t take his place. The seat remained open, and Edmunds made a successful last-ditch attempt, qualifying 27th.

The Indy 500 Rookie of the Year Award in the 1950s consisted of a $500 prize and a year’s supply of meat from Indianapolis-based award sponsor Stark, Wetzel & Co. Always a personable gentleman with the ironic nickname of “Rotten Red,” California resident Edmunds gave his year’s supply of meat to fellow “500” driver and close friend Jimmy Reece because Reece lived in Indianapolis and could visit Stark & Wetzel to get a regular restock of meats.

Edmunds returned to IMS in 1958 in the McKay car but was injured in a crash during practice and spent a few days in the hospital, unable to attempt to qualify. Edmunds was back in 1959 in a car owned by Walter Braund. He couldn’t get up to speed and decided to quit as a driver, still dismayed by the death of Reece in September 1958 in a crash at Trenton, New Jersey, and also stung by the recent deaths of other drivers in accidents.

Still, Edmunds always maintained his passion for the Indianapolis 500 and IMS, insisting his one start in the “500” changed his life and opened many doors. He was a friendly and popular member of the large group of Indy 500 starters who returned to IMS in 2011 for the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500.

After his driving career ended, the well-spoken Edmunds turned his focus to his race car construction business based in Southern California, Don Edmunds Autoresearch. He already was known as a skilled fabricator, having worked for Eddie Kuzma in the 1950s. Edmunds claimed his first job with Kuzma was to repair the dent in the tail of Jimmy Bryan’s car in 1955 after Bryan kicked it in frustration due to dropping out of the lead of the Indy 500 near the halfway point because of fuel pump failure.

Don Edmunds Autoresearch became one of the most prolific builders of midget race cars in the country in the 1960s, 70s and early 80s. His company also built supermodifieds, sprint cars and super vees.

Another notable Autoresearch creation was the X-1 Skycycle prototype for famous stuntman Evel Knievel’s jump over the Snake River Canyon in Idaho. The X-2 Skycycle in which Knievel made the failed attempt at the jump in 1974 was based on the X-1.

In his later years, Edmunds enjoyed restoring vintage race cars and building scale models of race cars with stunning detail.

Edmunds was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1991 and the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1994.

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020 – Selected storylines for the 104^th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Practice opens Wednesday, Aug. 12, with Race Day on Sunday, Aug. 23.

• New era: This will be the first Indianapolis 500 under the ownership of the Penske Corporation, led by iconic businessman and race team owner Roger Penske. Ownership of the fabled facility changed hands Jan. 6 when the Hulman-George family’s sale of the Speedway, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and IMS Productions to Penske became final. The Hulman-George family had owned IMS since November 1945.
• Safety revolution: This will be the first year in which the new Aeroscreen will be used in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. The Aeroscreen, mandatory on all NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars starting this season, offers a revolutionary new level of driver protection and creates a sleek, jet fighter look to the open-wheel cars. The Aeroscreen’s IMS competition debut took place July 4 during the GMR Grand Prix on the IMS road course, but this will be the first time the safety device will be used in the Indy 500. The IMS oval debut of the Aeroscreen continues the Speedway’s legacy of automotive safety and technology development that started with the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911.
• More speed, drama in qualifying: Speed and drama should be on the rise during qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 on Saturday, Aug. 15 and Sunday, Aug. 16 due to technical and format changes. Turbocharger boost will be increased for qualifying, adding 45 horsepower to increase speeds.
• Fernando is back: Two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso is back at IMS in a bid to become just the second driver to win the “Triple Crown” of motorsports – victories in the Monaco Grand Prix, 24 Hours of Le Mans and Indianapolis 500. Alonso, from Spain, will drive for Arrow McLaren SP while attempting to make his second start in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The motorsports world was shocked last season when Alonso was bumped from the starting field during the Last Row Shootout by driver Kyle Kaiser and upstart Juncos Racing. Can Alonso bounce back this year and make history by entering Victory Lane?
• Team Penske three-peat?: Team Penske could make history with a third consecutive victory in this Indianapolis 500, a feat that’s only been achieved twice. Team Penske’s Will Power won in 2018 with teammate Simon Pagenaud triumphing in 2019. Team owner Lou Moore recorded three consecutive wins from 1947-49 with drivers Mauri Rose (1947-48) and Bill Holland (1949). Team Penske matched that mark from 2001-03, with Helio Castroneves (2001-02) and Gil de Ferran (2003).
• Helio aims for No. 4: Helio Castroneves again will attempt to join one of the most exclusive clubs in global motorsports – four-time winners of the Indianapolis 500 – this year in a Team Penske car. Castroneves’ third win came in 2009, and his chances to join A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as four-time winners are dwindling at age 45 as he edges closer toward the end of his illustrious career. Can he get win No. 4?
• TK’s Last Lap continues: 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan will continue his final season of regular NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Aug. 23, driving for A.J. Foyt Racing. Can Kanaan punctuate his final campaign, consisting of all of the oval races on the schedule, with an emotional victory at age 45?
• Andretti adds more strength: The spotlight will be on 2019 rookie phenom Colton Herta, who won two NTT INDYCAR SERIES races last season, as he became the fifth full-time driver in the powerful Andretti Autosport stable this season. Herta brought many officials and crew members from the upstart Harding Steinbrenner Racing team of 2019, including that former team’s 23-year-old owner, George Steinbrenner IV, the grandson of late legendary New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. James Hinchcliffe, Indy’s pole winner in 2016, joins Andretti Autosport for the “500,” making it a six-car effort that includes 2014 “500” winner Ryan Hunter-Reay and 2016 “500” winner Alexander Rossi. Michael Andretti’s team has won the “500” with five different drivers since 2005.
• Deep field: It can be argued that this is one of the deepest fields in event history as eight former “500” winners are entered, the most since 1992, when a record 10 entered. Former winners competing this year include Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009), Scott Dixon (2008), Tony Kanaan (2013), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014), Alexander Rossi (2016), Takuma Sato (2017), Will Power (2018) and Simon Pagenaud (2019). Castroneves, Dixon, Kanaan and Pagenaud are among the drivers who have won poles for this race. The others are Ed Carpenter and James Hinchcliffe. Power has won 58 poles in his NTT INDYCAR SERIES career – second-most in series history behind Mario Andretti’s 67 – but the Aussie is seeking his first “500” pole.
• Dixon off to a strong 2020: Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon won the first three NTT INDYCAR SERIES races of the season and enters the double-points-paying “500” atop the standings by 49 points over Team Penske’s Simon Pagenaud. Dixon, who is bidding for his second Indy victory, has won 49 career races, which ranks third on the sport’s all-time list behind A.J. Foyt (67) and Mario Andretti (52). Dixon always seems to be in contention at IMS, winning three poles and finishing in the top six on nine occasions in 17 starts.
• Intense rookie battle: Five rookies will compete for Rookie of the Year honors, with the past two Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires champions (Pato O’Ward and Oliver Askew) driving for the same team (Arrow McLaren SP). Rinus VeeKay (Ed Carpenter Racing), Alex Palou (Dale Coyne Racing with Team Goh) and Dalton Kellett (A.J. Foyt Racing) are the other first-timers in this field.
• How Swede it is: Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Ericsson are not only teammates at Chip Ganassi Racing, they represent the best chance for a Swede to reach Victory Lane at IMS since Kenny Brack won in 1999. Rosenqvist earned his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory last month at Road America. Conor Daly, who will drive for Ed Carpenter Racing, is the best chance for an Indiana-born driver to win the “500.” The last was Wilbur Shaw in 1940.
• Cole for Conor: Race engineer Cole Pearn, who led Martin Truex Jr. and Furniture Row Racing to the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series championship, has joined Ed Carpenter Racing to lead Conor Daly’s “500” program. The jump from stock cars to Indy cars is unusual but not without success. In 2015, Brian Campe helped Team Penske’s Juan Pablo Montoya win the “500.”
• Golden year for Big Al: This is the 50th anniversary of Al Unser’s first of four Indianapolis 500 victories. Unser drove the iconic Johnny Lightning Special in 1970. He later won the “500” in 1971, 1978 and 1987.
• Live Central Indiana broadcast part of NBC effort: NBC will broadcast the “500” for the second consecutive year with its talented team led by Mike Tirico. For the second time in five years, the broadcast will air live in Central Indiana, this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sold-out 2016 race was the first “500” to air live since portions of the race were in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020 – A Torch Red 2020 Corvette Stingray coupe will serve as the Official Pace Car for the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, continuing Chevrolet’s tradition of leading the field to the green flag. The Pace Car will be driven by GM President Mark Reuss.

This year, the race will be held outside of May for the first time – Sunday, Aug. 23 – with live NBC coverage at 2:30 p.m. (ET). This marks the 17th time a Corvette has served as the Pace Car, starting in 1978, and the 31st time a Chevrolet has led the field dating to 1948 when a Fleetmaster Six convertible held the honor.

No other brand or vehicle has served as the “500” Pace Car more often than Chevrolet and the Corvette, respectively.

“It’s truly an honor to have the opportunity to be behind the wheel of the mid-engine Corvette Pace Car at such a historic race as the Indy 500,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “The 2020 Corvette Stingray is the result of a close collaboration between the Corvette Racing and production engineering teams, setting a new benchmark for supercars around the world.”

The Torch Red 2020 Corvette Stingray Pace Car features:
· All-new mid-engine LT2 6.2L V8 engine
· 8-Speed Dual Clutch transmission
· Z51 performance package
· Corvette accessory spoiler and ground effects package
· Carbon Flash exterior accents and badge package
· GT2 Bucket Seats
· Unique Indy 500 Livery

With 495 horsepower, the Torch Red Corvette Stingray can accelerate from 0-60 in 2.9 seconds, capable of 194 mph. It has been named MotorTrend Car of the Year for 2020.

“This is a continuation of our outstanding partnership with Chevrolet,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “We’re so grateful for all that Chevrolet has contributed to the success of our events. The Torch Red 2020 Corvette Stingray is a world-class machine rich with speed, performance and excitement, perfectly suited to pace the ‘500’ field.”

Chevrolet has a storied history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chevrolet was founded in 1911, the year of the inaugural 500-mile race, and company co-founder Louis Chevrolet, along with brothers Arthur and Gaston, competed in early Indy 500s. Arthur competed in the 1911 race and Gaston won in 1920.

Nine drivers with Chevrolet engines have combined to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” 11 times, with Rick Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, Arie Luyendyk, Al Unser Jr., Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Juan Pablo Montoya, Will Power and most recently Simon Pagenaud driving to Victory Lane with bowtie power.

Pagenaud won the 2019 Indianapolis 500 from the pole driving the No. 22 Menards Team Penske Chevrolet. In 2018, Ed Carpenter won the pole and Power the race in Chevrolet-powered machines.

Josef Newgarden won last year’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship driving the No. 2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet. Pagenaud finished second in the standings.

Visit IMS.com for more information about this year’s schedule.

The race will be televised live on NBC for the second consecutive year, with the pre-race show starting at 1 p.m. The Pennzoil INDYCAR Radio Network will provide live coverage of the race to its affiliates and on Sirius 211, XM 205, indycar.com and the INDYCAR Mobile App powered by NTT DATA.

About Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world’s largest spectator sporting facility, has been the worldwide leader in motorsports entertainment since opening in 1909. IMS is hosting the 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, Aug. 23, the world’s most prestigious auto race. The Speedway also made history during the Fourth of July weekend, hosting the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NTT INDYCAR SERIES on the same weekend for the first time during the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 at Powered by Big Machine Records, Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard and GMR Grand Prix. IMS also will welcome the competitors of MotoAmerica and the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli/GT Challenge World Challenge America during major event weekends in 2020. IMS, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and IMS Productions are owned by Penske Corporation, a global transportation, automotive and motorsports leader. For more information, please visit ims.com.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 100 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020) – The Indianapolis Motor Speedway today issued the following statement:

“It is with great regret that we announce the 104^th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place on Aug. 23 without fans. This tough decision was made following careful consideration and extensive consultation with state and city leadership.

“As dedicated as we were to running the race this year with 25 percent attendance at our large outdoor facility, even with meaningful and careful precautions implemented by the city and state, the COVID-19 trends in Marion County and Indiana have worsened. Since our June 26 announcement, the number of cases in Marion County has tripled while the positivity rate has doubled. We said from the beginning of the pandemic we would put the health and safety of our community first, and while hosting spectators at a limited capacity with our robust plan in place was appropriate in late June, it is not the right path forward based on the current environment.

“We encourage Hoosiers to continue making smart decisions and following the advice of our public health officials so we can help get Indiana back on track.

“Penske Corporation made a long-term investment to be the steward of this legendary facility. While we were very excited to showcase the investments and enhancements we have made in the guest experience, we know we have reached the right decision. As much as Roger Penske and everyone associated with the ‘500’ wanted to race with fans this year, we ultimately reached this conclusion in partnership with the state of Indiana and city of Indianapolis.

“Our commitment to the Speedway is unwavering, and we will continue to invest in the Racing Capital of the World. We encourage everyone to watch this year’s race on NBC, and we look forward to welcoming our loyal fans back to ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ on May 30^th of 2021.”

Further Information from IMS

• All on-track activity during the month of August, including practice and qualifications, will be closed to the general public.
• Individuals who still have tickets to this year’s Indy 500 will be credited for the 2021 Indianapolis 500 and will retain their seniority and their originally assigned seats.
• The first Indy 500 practice will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 12, with a full schedule available on IMS.com.
• All of the action from IMS can be viewed via NBC Sports Gold, NBCSN or NBC. Visit IMS.com or INDYCAR.com for a comprehensive streaming and broadcast schedule.
• The 104^th Running of the Indy 500 will take place Sunday, Aug. 23, with national coverage beginning on NBC at 1 p.m. ET.
• Local Central Indiana coverage of the race will be available on NBC affiliate WTHR.
• Broadcast coverage of qualifications on Saturday, Aug. 15 begins on NBC at 3 p.m. ET.
• Sunday, Aug. 16 broadcast coverage of Pole Day begins on NBC at 1 p.m.

Masks To Be Mandatory; Race To Air Live in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, July 22, 2020) – Officials from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today released a detailed 88-page plan they have put in place to welcome the estimated 25 percent of capacity crowd expected to attend the 104^th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, Aug. 23.

Mark Miles, Penske Entertainment Corp. president & CEO, also announced that this year’s race will air live in Indianapolis on NBC, allowing more Hoosiers to watch in real-time from their homes.

“Everything will be different about this year’s race, from the reduced crowd size, to a new distanced seating arrangement, to mandatory masks and a live broadcast throughout Central Indiana,” Miles said. “We will welcome fans to the ‘500’ based on a highly detailed, careful plan that was developed in collaboration with national, state and local health experts.”

The plan was developed over the last four months by a team of Indy officials and national health experts, including Dr. Edward Racht, chief medical officer of Global Medical Response, the largest emergency medical services provider in the nation. It has also been approved by the Marion County Department of Public Health subject to continued review.

“The IMS plan has been developed in consultation with the Marion County Public Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health, and reflects the current best practices and mitigating steps outdoor venues should have in place to host public events,” Marion County Public Health Department Director Dr. Virginia Caine said. “It meets or exceeds all local guidelines and is approved subject to continued review. I appreciate the serious and collaborative approach IMS has displayed throughout this process.” 

“The IMS plan is detailed and extensive and takes all the right steps to ensure the best measures and precautions are in place,” Indiana State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box said. “Speedway officials have been transparent and communicative throughout this process, and we appreciate the opportunities we’ve had to provide input.”

Highlights of the plan include:

• Attendance will be at approximately 25 percent.
• Seats will be reassigned to provide for greater distancing.
• Masks will be mandated throughout the entire venue, both indoors and outdoors.
• Everyone will be screened with a contactless thermometer, and individuals with a temperature in excess of 100.4 degrees will be prohibited from entering the Speedway.
• All drinking fountains and misting stations will be removed.
• Capacity limits on elevators will be enforced.
• Options from concession stands will be limited to mostly pre-packaged foods.
• To reduce crowding, many activities will be eliminated, including all concerts, the VIP Red Carpet and the Indiana Press Foundation’s Last Row Party.
• To help the venue and community prepare for Indy 500 Race Day, all Saturday activities, including Legends Day at IMS and the downtown 500 Festival Parade, have been canceled. Key 500 Festival programming will transition to digital platforms.
• Signage will be displayed throughout the venue to encourage healthy practices, and staff will move about the facility to monitor conditions and assist customers.

The plan dives deeply into facility sanitation, cleaning and disinfecting practices, and workforce preparation training and deployment.

“We think it’s important to welcome race fans to the ‘500’ and to demonstrate that America, Indiana and Indianapolis do not need to shut down,” Miles said. “We can and will operate with every precaution we can think of as we welcome fans to the race. We will continue to work with our local and state health officials to ensure we’re doing whatever is necessary to protect our fans.”

CHEVROLET RACING IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
IOWA INDYCAR 250S DOUBLEHEADER
IOWA SPEEDWAY
NEWTON, IOWA
TEAM CHEVY RACE 2 NOTES & QUOTES
JULY 18, 2020

TOP CHEVROLET UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
1st JOSEF NEWGARDEN, NO. 1 HITACHI TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET
2rd WILL POWER, NO. 12 VERIZON TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET
4th SIMON PAGENAUD, NO. 22 MENARDS TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET
6th OLIVER ASKEW, NO. 7 ARROW MCLAREN SP CHEVROLET

TOP FIVE UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
1st Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet)
2nd Will Power (Chevrolet)
3rd Graham Rahal (Honda)
4th Simon Pagenaud (Chevrolet)
5th Scott Dixon (Honda)

Josef Newgarden conquerors Iowa Speedway for third time leading 214 of 250 laps; first driver to win at Iowa from pole Chevrolet drivers capture four of top-six finishing positions in sweep of Iowa doubleheader

NEWTON, IOWA – Josef Newgarden shook off the disappointment of an ill-timed caution during Race One on Friday night to take advantage of starting on the pole and finish in Victory Lane in tonight’s Race Two of the Iowa INDYCAR 250s.

Between the green flag and the checkered flag, the two-time and defending NTT INDYCAR Series champion, driving his favorite No. 1 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet, led 214 of 250 laps to become a three-time winner and the first to win from the pole. His other victories at the .875-mile oval came in 2016 and 2019.

Following in Newgarden’s tire tracks at the finish was teammate Will Power. Power was credited with leading once for two laps behind the wheel of his familiar No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet.

Last night’s winner Simon Pagenaud, No. 22 Menards Team Penske Chevrolet, who again was the last car on the starting grid, came home in fourth.

Giving Team Chevy four of the top-six finishers was Rookie-of-the-Year contender Oliver Askew finished sixth in his No. 7 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet.

Graham Rahal (Honda) completed the podium.

Pagenaud leaves Iowa second in the standings, 49 points behind the leader.. Newgarden is third, followed by Pato O’Ward in fourth and Power in fifth,

The NTT INDYCAR Series season continues August 9th at 1:30 p.m. ET with the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio in Lexington, Ohio. Live coverage can be found on NBCSN, the INDYCAR Radio Network, Sirius 211, XM 205, IndyCar.com and on the INDYCAR MOBILE APP powered by NTT DATA.

TEAM CHEVY NOTES AND QUOTES:

JOSEF NEWGARDEN, NO. 1 HITACHI TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET – Race Winner
AFTER LAST NIGHT, TO COME OUT HERE AND WIN THIS ONE FROM THE POLE, HOW GOOD DOES THIS ONE FEEL?
“It feels really good. I don’t know what we’ve got to do to keep the bad luck off of us, but hopefully this is a start. Our guys did an amazing job yesterday. I was so disappointed for them because I felt like they had the winning car. They put in the work and we just weren’t able to get rewarded for it. I was so determined to come back today. I think everyone was determined to come back and have a really good race. And we just ran hard. We ran hard all day. I’m so proud to be powered by Chevrolet. I felt like we had the package to beat: fuel mileage, durability, we had the power. And then to have Hitachi back on, they’ve been a good luck charm for us. Thanks to Hitachi. Thanks to everybody at Team Penske back at the shop. I’m just thrilled we were finally able to get this monkey off our back.”

YOU ARE THE FIRST DRIVER AT IOWA TO START ON POLE AND END UP IN VICTORY LANE. YOU MADE IT LOOK EASY
“I heard that stat. I don’t think I’ve been on pole here before. So, I was sitting there thinking you know, we can do that. I don’t know why we can’t convert from pole. It’s just kind of a silly stat, I guess, that’s kind of run through to this point. I knew we had speed. I felt totally confident. When Tim’s (Cindric) is on my stand and I have my guys doing pit stops, I have complete confidence we can win any race that we go into. That stat wasn’t bugging me.”

WHAT CAN THIS DO FOR YOU IN PROPELLING THIS TEAM FORWARD AS THE SEASON PROGRESSES?
“Well, we needed to. It would have been nice if we could have had a couple of the finishes where we thought we should have been. I think at Road America, we had a winning car on Saturday. I wasn’t able to secure that. We had a podium to slip away at the GP. I knew we needed a win and we need another one to come soon enough, too. It’s not going to be just one. We’ve got to be able to put consistent finishes on the board.”

WILL POWER, NO. 12 VERIZON TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET – Finished 2nd
AFTER A COUPLE OF ROUGH RACES, HOW GOOD DOES IT FEEL JUST TO PUT A SOLID NIGHT TOGETHER?
“Yeah, it feels good to have a solid day. I’ve got to thank Verizon and Chevy for all the support. And, yeah man, we would have loved to have the win, of course; but it’s seeming like if you did a good job in the series, you just get screwed. So, I’m glad for once we actually get a good result out of it. So, soldier on. I’m exhausted.”

WHAT’S THE STORY ON YOUR ICE BATH LAST NIGHT?
“It made me feel good. It’s so bloody hot in these cars now. Man, I’m going to need one after this one. I look forward to trying to have a good rest of the season. I don’t know what it is I have to do to have normal races like (Scott) Dixon and (Simon) Pagenaud. Even if those guys qualify last, they end up at the front. Maybe I just try less and be a much worse driver and I think I’ll do way better.”

WHATEVER IT TAKES, RIGHT?
“Yeah, that’s what it seems like.”

SIMON PAGENAUD, NO. 22 MENARDS TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET – Finished 4rd
YOU ARE THE HARD-CHARGER FOR THE WEEKEND, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. WE’VE SEEN THE DRIVERS GET OUT OF THEIR CARS JUST EXHAUSTED. HOW EXTRA TOUGH WAS YOUR JOB AS MANY CARS AS YOU HAD TO PASS?
“Yeah, it was a tough weekend, and certainly a dramatic one. But we prevailed. I want to thank Team Penske and Menards and Chevy for giving me the horsepower going forward. We weren’t quite as hooked-up today. I’m not sure why. I actually think we went the wrong way in the adjustment in the pit stop and from then, we had to do quick speed stops, so we didn’t make any changes. Maybe we didn’t have the outright pace, but overall first and fourth is pretty good when you start last in both races. So, I’m pretty pleased with the results and it seems like the championship is shaping up, so it’s pretty exciting right now.”

AFTER QUALIFYING YESTERDAY, THE OUTLOOK WAS LIKELY MORE GRIM THAN OTHER WEEKENDS. SO, IS IT A FEELING OF RELIEF OR JUST SATISFACTION OVERALL THAT YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU DID THIS WEEKEND?
“Well, it’s satisfaction from a preparation standpoint. We just showed everybody in the paddock that you have to count on us no matter what happens. So, that’s the mark of a champion team. And, that’s what you want to do. That’s what you want to show every weekend. You want people to fear you. I’m pretty sure they feared us today. We’ll re-group again and go to Mid-Ohio.”

OLIVER ASKEW, NO. 7 ARROW MCLAREN SP CHEVROLET – Finished 6th
A THIRD AND A SIXTH AT A PLACE THAT HAS BEEN DEEMED CHALLENGING, BUT YOU TOOK TO IT LIKE A DUCK TO WATER. HOW DID YOU FIGURE IT OUT?
“Yeah, you can’t complain about two top-10’s and especially our first podium after yesterday. It was hard to sleep after all the adrenalin. But we just had to focus and get back to it today. I was really proud of everyone at Arrow McLaren SP and Chevrolet and everybody involved with this team. I know Pato (O’Ward) had a really good shot there at a podium and a win, so we’re definitely on the right track. Two podiums in two race weekends for us with really quick cars. I’m just really looking forward to the next couple of races. Hopefully we can keep this momentum going and really have a good run at the rookie of the year championship.”

TONY KANAAN, NO 14 BRYANT AJ FOYT RACING CHEVROLET – Finished 11th
“All in all, I think it was a positive weekend for us. We definitely have a much more competitive car. We’ve been running in the top 10 every single race with one of these cars, so really happy. Very emotional weekend for me yesterday giving the command. It was kinda like, I never had done that, so it was kind of mixed feelings and it was really cool to do it, but also it’s something really coming to an end. Today we had a great race. We ran in the top eight all day long. The tire strategy we played a little bit of a gamble and it worked so I was really happy. I was a lot more comfortable today in the car. You know, doing this race is like one weekend, four weekends off…it’s kinda weird to me. I’ve done 17 races in a row for 23 years so I think this is a good lead for Indy. We’re going to have a normal “Month of August” in Indy, so I’ll be in the car every day so hopefully we’ll go for the big win because that’s what my boss wants. Thanks to Bryant, Firestone, Chevy and the whole Foyt team for the opportunity. Let’s go to Indy!”

PATO O’WARD, NO. 5 ARROW MCLAREN SP CHEVROLET – Finished 12th
“Yesterday, I think we started off the weekend well. In the second race, the best way to sum it up is ‘what could have been.’ We had the pace, we were strong, I made up positions to be fighting at the front. In the end, it was not meant to be for us, but we’re going to continue pushing to finish strong at Mid-Ohio.”

CONOR DALY, NO. 59 GALLAGHER CARLIN CHEVROLET – Finished 13th
“Tough night for us. The No. 59 Gallagher Carlin Chevrolet was really strong all race and even after we came out on the wrong side of Ed’s yellow, we were still pushing up at the front running pretty consistently in the top three. We made a strategy call there at the end to stay out under the yellow and wait to take tires until about 35 to go. Unfortunately, in tonight’s race it just wasn’t the right strategy and we didn’t move forward like we thought we would. I’m gutted for the team because the car was great and had serious podium potential, but we just had some bad luck. Obviously I’m still feeling good about our pole from yesterday, but it would’ve been really nice to come away with a top-three finish this weekend.”

CHARLIE KIMBALL, NO. 4 TRESIBA AJ FOYT RACING CHEVROLET – Finished 16th
“Another tough night here at Iowa Speedway for the No. 4 Tresiba Chevrolet. The guys did a great job in pit lane – they’ve done that all year. It’s nice to rely on that coming down pit lane to pick up ties and spots, but we just struggled a little bit. I struggled with grip. I struggled with balance. Felt like I drove pretty hard, but we had a lot to learn and a lot to look at heading into the next race at Mid-Ohio and the big one at Indy.”

RINUS VEEKAY, NO. 21 SONAX ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET – Finished 17th
“Yesterday, the car felt amazing. I could pass whenever I wanted and tires would stay good for a long time, at least 80 laps. I struggled with that tonight. I just didn’t have the pace to charge through the field. Still, we were doing well, closing back in on the Top 10 after a bad start. Then, at the second pit stop, the car got down on the ground with three wheels on it. We had trouble restarting the car and lost about three laps. That was a bummer. We are very unlucky at the moment, but let’s hope it will switch around soon. Mid-Ohio is coming up soon and that’s been a good track for me. I’ve won races and had a very good test with ECR last year, so I can’t wait to try again there.”

ED CARPENTER, NO. 20 U.S. AIR FORCE ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET – Contact with the wall; sidelined on Lap 113 – Finished 23rd
“I caught a group of guys that were stacked up two-wide in front of me. I had Charlie (Kimball) on the inside and I just went into Turn 1 a little too hard. I got more understeer than I thought, got up into the marbles and couldn’t get it back. I am so disappointed that I made that mistake. The U.S. Air Force Chevrolet was really hooked up tonight. We struggled so much last night but felt like we really showed something tonight. I’m not sure what hurts worst, the poor performance last night or messing up a good result tonight. On to the next one.”

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 100 countries and selling more than 4.0 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Second consecutive top ten INDYCAR finish for Harvey

Newton, IA. (18 July 2020) – Race two of two kicked off on Saturday evening at Iowa Speedway as Meyer Shank Racing driver Jack Harvey once again delivered a strong race pace with the No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda, coming home with another seventh place finish to close out the NTT INDYCAR Iowa double-header race weekend.

Four flawless pit stops and continued improvements around the .875-mile ‘bull ring’ gave Harvey a competitive advantage as he made his INDYCAR debut at Iowa Speedway.

Having finished seventh in the Friday night race, Harvey took the green flag in sixth position which was determined during Friday’s qualifying session. A quick jump at the green bumped Harvey up to fifth during the opening stint.

A well-balanced Honda-powered machine gave Harvey the confidence to make several passes along the bumpy and non-stop circuit. Meyer Shank Racing strategy called by team co-owner Mike Shank, brought Harvey into pit lane twice before the first full course caution on lap 115. The team took advantage of the yellow flag to make a third pit stop under yellow on lap 120 to stay on the lead lap.

Harvey’s final pit stop on lap 172 would give him a fresh set of Firestone Racing tires and a full tank of fuel which brought him to the finish. Running 78 final laps on one set of tires was a battle of its own, but that strategy call allowed Harvey to stay in the fray and continue his pursuit to the front.

Utilizing his tools to hang onto the No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda, Harvey matched his Race 1 results from Friday, to finish seventh.

“I thought that was a really solid weekend for Meyer Shank Racing,” said Harvey. “If you would have said before this weekend we’d have two seventh place finishes and two top tens in qualifying, we’d have taken that for sure. I’m so proud of everyone at Meyer Shank Racing who have had constant and relentless determination to have a good season. We’re just going to keep rolling with our momentum into the bossman’s home race at Mid-Ohio in a few weeks.”

The solid weekend was a well-received outcome after the Meyer Shank Racing squad opened the 2020 season with remarkable qualifying pace from Harvey, but lacked the racing luck to convert that into big results. Harvey and Meyer Shank Racing will now look forward to the next round of IndyCar action at the team’s home track, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

“We really needed a weekend like we had to get back on track,” said Meyer Shank Racing co-owner Mike Shank. “Jack really did a great job. These weekends don’t give you much track time so you’re just kind of thrown into it all and have to learn quickly, but Jack had no issues with that. The guys had great stops today and our strategy worked in our favor. Having two top ten qualifying runs and two top ten race results really puts us back in the game. I’m very pleased with this weekend.”

After a busy few weeks of three consecutive INDYCAR races, the team will have two weeks before they head to Meyer Shank Racing’s home track at Mid-Ohio on August 9th for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.

Ahead of that INDYCAR outing, Meyer Shank Racing will return to IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship action at Road America on August 2nd.