Well lets get this restarted, back at the track today and hopefully the clouds will break and we will hit a few higher temperatures, and more importantly the roar of engines, not blowers (not Henry, track driers). So news wise today, what we know, Grace Autosport have announced that they will not be competing at this year's 500, things were moving along nicely until around the time of the Long Beach race when deals did not fall into place. It was a very ambitious effort and one which is not going to end thankfully, Beth and her team are committed to bringing their dream to a reality, but for 2016, they still sleep.
In the meantime, here's a thought from last night...
In the meantime, here's a thought from last night...
Mug n bun is funny. Sitting in a car park flashing your lights gets you something completely different in England
— Indycar UK (@IndycarUK) May 18, 2016
Well 10am arrived and the press conference room filled, in comes Dale Coyne, Conor Daly and this guy called Pat McAfee, apparently he is a hand egg player, yeah I'm not a NFL fan. It was announced that Conor Daly will be sponsored at the 500 by shirtsforamerica.com honouring military veterans. It was a hilarious press conference, so enjoy the next 17 minutes of your life.
12 o'clock rolls around and the green flag flies to start practice, cars pull away from their pit boxes and the sound, and smell is glorious. It's my first time at an oval since 2012 at TMS, I have missed it.
The first car in trouble this week was the rookie Spencer Pigot, coming out of turn one lost the back end and caught the last section of the SAFER barrier, thankfully. No flips and all the parts of the car stayed attached, good work teams. Spencer was checked and cleared from the medical centre.
It is said that at Indianapolis, there are only those who have crashed, and those yet to crash, welcome to the club Spencer.
It is said that at Indianapolis, there are only those who have crashed, and those yet to crash, welcome to the club Spencer.
And some pit lane action shots for you to peruse.
During the afternoon, I had the chance to chat with Jack Hawksworth, driver of the #41 AJ Foyt car.
I will be catching up tomorrow with more Yorkshire Indycar history so look forward to sharing that with you later. As for on track activity, another good day for the Honda cars, particularly Hunter-Reay topping the speed charts.
One final note for the day, Ryan Hunter-Reay kids provided some laughs in the media centre, with their take on the Indian500apolis. That's a wrap on the day, more good weather tomorrow please, and more speed, always more speed. Out.
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