The 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 is this weekend. In this week’s TrackTalk we examine the favorites to win the race, but also look through the grid to see if there are any underdogs or dark horses with the ability to break through.
New Zealand’s Scott Dixon will tear through the streets of Toronto in July, but in May he’s content to ride slowly through its traffic. The four-time Verizon IndyCar Series Champion was north of the border for a media tour in advance the 2017 Indianapolis 500. Dixon claimed pole position for the event, knocking defending champion Alexander Rossi and two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso off the top of the lineup. While outrunning these drivers was a feat in itself, the real focus was on the last driver up.
As two-time Indianapolis 500 pole sitter Ed Carpenter screamed around Indianapolis Motor Speedway for his last qualifying lap, two people looked on with great anxiety. One was Scott Dixon, four-time champion of the Verizon IndyCar Series and 2008 Indy 500 champion, who was sitting on pole position while hometown hero Carpenter attempted to knock him off. The other was myself, watching from my apartment in Toronto, knowing that if Carpenter was to come in second, then my upcoming interview with Scott Dixon was going to become an interview with 2017 Indy 500 pole sitter Scott Dixon.
We’re only 4 days out from the Indianapolis 500 and the hype is at an all-time high. The story lines are crazy, from Sebastien Bourdais’ terrifying crash (don’t worry, he's going to be just fine!) to Scott Dixon’s flawless run that lead him to becoming the 2017 Indy 500 pole sitter. With media day yesterday, you’re probably thinking to yourself- wait! Who ARE some of these people? Well, Indy 500 is a special race where 33 entries are allowed to race and now that we’ve finished qualifying, we’ll get you up to speed with the who’s who of extra entries.
Qualifying is done and the field is set for the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500. We look back at the stories from Indy 500 qualifying, and preview this year’s rookie class.
It’s the month of May and in the world of IndyCar racing that means all things Indianapolis. We kick off today’s TrackTalk by reviewing the news and notes from the IndyCar Grand Prix, and then provide our pole position picks for the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500.
Via indycar.com
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – It’s not been the best pair of days for defending Indianapolis 500 pole sitter and Verizon IndyCar Series star James Hinchcliffe.
So you’ve read through PART ONE and you’re not convinced? Everyone so far seemed awesome but, they don’t catch your eye? That’s fine! We’ve got twelve more drivers for you to peruse and decide who you’re going to cheer for, but choose quickly (and wisely)! The Indy 500 is fast approaching!
Welcome to May- the most exciting month in motorsports! Thus far, the season has been full of surprises and no two races have come up with the same winner so, who should new fans cheer for? The hometown hero and 2017 Grand Prix of Long Beach winner James Hinchcliffe? One of the heavyweight veterans, Helio Castroneves or Tony Kanaan? Maybe one of the young guns like Josef Newgarden or Alexander Rossi? Let us help you out with a rundown this year’s 2017 IndyCar drivers.
