Catherine Rusoff
The start of the Indianapolis 500 was expected to be delayed as a severe storm hit the area, forcing Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to evacuate about 125,000 fans who had already arrived for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Video boards inside the runway indicated a severe thunderstorm warning was in effect as the storm approached from the west. It was expected to bring heavy rain, along with dangerous winds and lightning.
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The impact of the storm was expected to occur around 12:45 pm EDT, exactly when the race was scheduled to begin. There was no word on how long the delay would last, but speedway president J. Douglas Boles said officials hope a window after the initial band of rain will allow enough time to dry the track and complete at least 101 laps, making the official race. .
The track takes approximately 90 minutes to dry, depending on several factors. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway brought in NASCAR’s track drying equipment to use along with its own in hopes of speeding up the process.
If rain persists or the window for the race does not last long enough, the entire 200-lap race will be run on Monday.
“No matter what decision we make at this point, it will be difficult for some of our fans,” Boles said. “Our hope is still, based on what the weather looks like, we can start drying the track around 2:30 or 3 a.m. and be able to start.”
Also in question were Kyle Larson’s plans to race the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte on Sunday night.
The NASCAR star is trying to become the fifth driver in history to complete “The Double” by competing in both races on the same day. The last one to do so was Kurt Busch in 2014, and the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles was Tony Stewart in 2001.
Larson qualified fifth for his Indy 500 debut in a joint effort between Arrow McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports.
“I think our plan is to keep that as a priority,” said Larson, who would need a waiver from NASCAR to miss the Cup Series race at Charlotte just before the grandstands were emptied. “I think I’d be here running.”
Michael Conroy/AP
The reigning Indy 500 winner is Josef Newgarden, whose Team Penske teammates Will Power and pole sitter Scott McLaughlin join him on the front row. McLaughlin broke the four-lap qualifying record with an average of 234.220 mph.
Newgarden has been trying to rebuild his reputation in the paddock after IndyCar discovered illegal push-to-pass software in Team Penske’s three cars and scrapped Newgarden’s victory and McLaughlin’s third-place finish in the season opener. President Tim Cindric, a strategist at Newgarden, is one of several team employees suspended for the race.
Only five drivers in 107 races have won the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in consecutive years.
Chevrolet clearly had the speed advantage in qualifying as the engine manufacturer took the first eight spots on the grid. But Honda showed it could do well in terms of the race, meaning there was no obvious favorite when the green flag dropped.
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