The Schedule
By Andrew Cutler
May 5 2009
Here is a complete run-down of the practice/qualifying/race schedule for the month of May at IMS. It has been shortened by three days from previous years in an effort to help save the teams some cash in these tough times. At the bottom is my planned itinerary.
TRACK SCHEDULE
Tuesday, 5/5:
9am-2pm: Firestone Indy Lights practice (the FIL will run a 100 mile race on the Friday prior to the 500). 2pm-5pm: rookie orientation+
Wednesday, 5/6:
9am-2pm: rookie orientation+ 2pm-6pm: open practice (veteran drivers may now take to the track).
Thursday, 5/7
noon-6pm: open practice
Friday, 5/8
noon-6pm: open practice. 6pm: drivers draw lots for qualifying order
Saturday, 5/9 - Pole Day qualifications*
9am-11am: practice. noon-6pm: qualifying - top eleven times/speeds set the first 1/3 of the grid: everyone left comes back on Sunday.
Sunday, 5/10 - 2nd day qualifications*
10:15-11:15am: practice. noon-6pm: qualifying - top eleven times set the middle 1/3rd of the grid; everyone left comes back next weekend.
Monday, 5/11 - Wednesday, 5/13
no track activity
Thursday, 5/14 & Friday, 5/15
noon-6pm: open practice
Saturday, 5/16 - 3rd day qualifications*
10:15-11:15am: practice. noon-6pm: qualifying - top 11 times set the last 1/3rd of the grid - everyone left comes back on Sunday.
Sunday, 5/17 - "Bump Day" qualifications*
10:15-11:15am: practice. noon-6pm: qualifying - anyone not yet in the field gets three shots at posting a better time than the current slowest qualifyer, "bumping" him/her from the field: any driver so "bumped" gets three shots at "bumping' their way BACK INTO THE FIELD by doing likewise (this process can get to be quite exciting)
Monday, 5/18 - Wednesday, 5/20
no track activity
Thursday, 5/21
9am-9:45am & 11:45am-12:30pm: Firestone Indy Lights practice. 3pm-4pm: Firestone Indy Lights qualifying.
Friday, 5/22 - "Carboration Day"
11am-noon: final open practice for Indy 500 grid. 12:30pm-1:30pm: Firestone Indy Lights Freedom 100 race. 1:30pm-3pm: pit stop challenge for IndyCar teams. 3:30pm; Carboration Day concert with 3 Doors Down.
Saturday, 5/23
9am-10am: driver's autograph session. 10:30am: driver's meeting (open to the public). noon: 500 Festival Parade, featuring drivers (held in downtown Indianapolis).
Sunday, 5/24 - 93rd Indianapolis 500*
6am: gates open. 1pm: race begins
+ rookie orientation is a program that all IndyCar drivers making their first visit to IMS must pass. It consists of them demonstrating to a group of veteran drivers (usually former drivers, now retired) that they can run a series of clean, smooth laps at consistant speeds in four sets of five laps apeice at speeds within a 5mph range, increasing by 5mph with each set successfully completed.
* weather permitting
If any of the qualifications days are lost due to weather, they will be "folded" into the nest qualification day's activities: For example, if Saturday, 5/9 is rained out, then the top 22 grid spots will be up for grabs on Sunday, 5/10.
MY SCHEDULE
I plan to go to the track on Tuesday, 5/5. I will not be able to stay long enough to see the IndyCar Rookies begin their orientation, but I will get to see the Firestone Indy Lights drivers practice: I plan to take plenty of pics, which I will post on Wednesday, & hope to get a couple of autographs as well.
I don't know whether I will make it back to the track on Wed, Thur or Fri, but I will be there for Pole Day, come rain or shine: I will get pics - & hopefully an autograph or two.
I usually try to make 3rd day quals as well, & I will certianly be there for Carboration Day, so I'll be posting yet more pics.
Race Day?: Just try to keep me away!