RacingNation.com
Home / IndyCar Series / “The Track Is Open For Practice!” Wait…it’s raining…

“The Track Is Open For Practice!” Wait…it’s raining…

SPEEDWAY,IN: On Saturday, May 15th promptly at noon, the green flag waved as another Opening Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway began to unfold under beautiful, sunny skies. It took only 80 minutes for the rain to begin!

Welcome to the Month of May in central Indiana…

The ever-so-brief practice period featured veteran drivers only, as 27 cars charged onto the Speedway to begin preparations for 2010 Indy 500. Before the “green blob over Terre Haute” reached the Speedway, defending winner Helio Castroneves nosed out 2008 Indy champ Dario Franchitti on the speed chart, recording a lap of 226.603 MPH, compared to Dario’s circuit of 226.535 MPH.

The good news: it didn’t take very long prove that the speeds should be considerably higher this year; in fact, the first four drivers on today’s speed chart have already exceeded the 2009 Pole speed of 224.864 MPH.

Weather permitting, the rest of the day will consist of Rookie Orientation, with lady drivers Simona De Silvestro and Ana Beatriz among the Speedway first-timers chomping at the bit…ready to go. In addition, the rock band Everclear is scheduled to perform on the Pepsi Stage at 4PM.

Hopefully, there will still be folks left here to enjoy the show…

Today’s top 10 speeds:

1. Helio Castroneves 226.603 MPH
2. Dario Farnchitti 226.535 MPH
3. Scott Dixon 226.237 MPH
4. Dan Wheldon 225.609 MPH
5. Tony Kanaan 224,793 MPH
(driving John Andretti’s #43)
6. Tony Kanaan 224.685 MPH
(in his own #11)
7. Ed Carpenter 224.592 MPH
8. Marco Andretti 224.466 MPH
9. Ryan Briscoe 224.384 MPH
10 John Andretti 224.324 MPH

Sunday’s schedule is the same as today; veteran practice from noon until 2PM, followed by Rookie Orientation from 2-6PM. Unfortunately, the all-important weather forecast for the next several days seems to indicate that things might not really get rolling until mid-week.

Springtime in Indy: if you’re into variety and instability regarding weather, this is the place for you. Stay tuned…

Share Button