The weather at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Friday morning was quite changeable. It started out at 7am sunny and warm with no breeze … and a rainbow over the grandstands. It quickly changed to a split-second hit and run mini showerette which barely wet the ground. Then it was back and forth sunny and gray, but getting windier. Part of the weather frustration is that the wind comes from different directions at different times, and ebbs and flows with velocity. Flags were furling. The weather promises to be schizophrenic all day long.
In the CFH Racing garage, the crew for Josef Newgarden’s No.21 Century 21 Chevrolet is beavering away to prepare the backup car for Newgarden to drive Friday afternoon. They worked til 11pm Thursday night and were back early Friday morning. The primary car is “junk. It will make a good showcar … someday.”
Over in the Dale Coyne garage, the crew is working for Pippa Mann’s No.63 Honda. The team has one backup car for all, so her primary car is being repaired. The crew continues to say they’ll be ready in time for Mann to go out Friday afternoon, weather permitting.
In Gasoline Alley, cars are going through Tech, the pace is picking up, and one can feel the buzz.
In the Media Center, various teams have annual Media Conferences. Friday morning it was Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, and Chip Ganassi Racing. Helio Castroneves/No.3 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet was in the building, but not for the annual Team Penske visit with the Media. He said it was canceled.
Castroneves said he’s not sore at all after his ride, sustaining only one small left knee bruise no bigger than bumping into something.
Other conferences on the schedule include the annual Louis Schwitzer Award for Innovation and Engineering Excellence in the field of Race Car Design.
And, special this year, a press conference to announce a new INDYCAR team. Stay tuned.