Heavier Indycars bring frustration into drivers on the 3rd day of Indianapolis 500 practice

Indianapolis (AP) – While the top of Thursday’s velocity card was filled with the usual names of Indycar, many other Indianapolis 500 drivers became increasingly frustrated about the results of the day. Graham Rahal complained about the broadcast about how the extra weight in the back of his car affected how it is handled around the 2.5 -mile oval. Marco Andretti offered a similar criticism during his radio communication. Santino Ferrucci was so upset about the car, he put all four tires over the white line on the warm -up apron, which led to a fine. Even the seemingly invincible points leader, Alex Palou, returned to the garage for a change to the no. 10 -Car to make. It was that kind of day on the first practice day for ‘the biggest spectacle in racing’ that was not interrupted by rain. “Tough day today, but we just have to sharpen the boost, cowboy and go and find what we need,” Rahal wrote on social media after practice. Rahal, Andretti and Ferrucci end on Thursday near the lower third of the speed maps. Palou was of course closer to the top. Drivers knew about the new, heavier hybrid cars of the series to navigate the fastest oval in racing, could be problematic if the April’s two-day open test when two experienced drivers crashed-2021 NASCAR champion Kyle Larson and two-time Indy winner Takuma Sato. What all this means for Friday when drivers get a power increase to increase their speeds before the weekend’s qualifications – or in the May 25 race – are unclear. But even some of the fastest drivers at Indy fight to find it all out. “You are 100, 110 pounds heavier. This is a lot of mass percentage you add to this car, ‘Josef Newgarden, two-time defending champion, said Wednesday. “It saturates the tires more. It just moves around. Your weight distribution is moved depending on where teams put it. That’s what people are trying to find out now. ‘ Sato is not just learning the new cars, he also fights another battle – rust. The two-time Indy winner spent seven seasons in Formula One before becoming an Indycar rule from 2010-2022. In 2023 he chased Chip Ganassi Racing five times. But he has not suitable since the 500 of last year. This year he drives Rahal Lannigan Letterman Racing again. “It’s not easy,” the Japanese native said Wednesday. ‘To get out of the car for 11 months, almost 12 months, jump in the car and go 230 km / h, you feel the velocity for sure. The renovation program helped me a lot. So just getting the speed with an extra two sets of tires makes me a little more confident or comfortable for the environment to get faster. ‘ Sato is trying to be born the third foreign manager with three Indy titles. Brazil’s Helio CastroneVes have four wins. Scotland Dario Franchitti won three times. Fox Sports announced on Thursday that it will bring two former IndyCar drivers to the broadcasting stand for next week’s race -Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick. Both have previously been broadcast work, and 500 fans can remember that Patrick heard on NBC’s 500 telephone sodings. Patrick was the first woman to lead the race in 2005 and became the highest female finish in the history of the race when she was in 2009. Stewart grew up in Indiana and won the 1997 IndyCar title before moving to the Cup series. He won three Nascar championships and won two 400 wins in Brickyard on his home lane, Indianapolis. Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials announced on Thursday that they have reached a perennial agreement with Turtle Wax to become the current sponsor for Fast Friday, the final exercise before the qualification is held on Saturday and Sunday. As part of the agreement, Turtle Wax will also provide its car care products to maintain the entire fleet of Speedway vehicles. “We are delighted with this alliance between two iconic midwest-based brands-turtle wax and Indianapolis car Speedway elk with a rich history in the car world,” said Daren Herbert, chief marketing officer of the company. “Simply put, it’s a game that is fast and shining, and we’re ready to go.” ___