It appears as if it has been one other lengthy break within the INDYCAR Series schedule.
That’s as a result of it is one other lengthy break within the schedule.
With two weekends off between every of the primary 4 races, the INDYCAR season can really feel a little bit disjointed.
However don’t fear, that is the final of these for some time. Looking forward to the remainder of the season so far as the schedule, there aren’t any extra prolonged breaks:
— 5 consecutive weekends on observe: Barber (Could 4), Indianapolis highway course (Could 10), Indy 500 qualifying (Could 17-18), Indianapolis 500 (Could 25) and Detroit (June 1).
— One week off after which back-to-back weekends at St. Louis (June 15) and Highway America (June 22)
— One week off after which 4 consecutive weekends at Mid-Ohio (July 6), Iowa doubleheader (July 12-13), Toronto (July 20) and Laguna Seca (July 27).
— After which a weekend off earlier than the season ends with three races in 4 weeks: Portland (Aug. 10), weekend off, Milwaukee (Aug. 24) and Nashville (Aug. 31).
So prepare on your fill of INDYCAR racing. And there might be vehicles on the observe Wednesday and Thursday this week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Indianapolis 500 testing.
With the upcoming racing and the Indy 500 testing in thoughts, listed below are six questions for the approaching weeks:
1. Will anybody catch Alex Palou?
Kyle Kirkwood received Lengthy Seaside and went from being 48 factors behind Alex Palou within the standings to 34 factors — because of the very fact Palou completed second. The important thing for Palou might be how a lot of a lead he can construct within the subsequent two weeks after which how he manages the ovals (two of the next three races) as he nonetheless seeks his first win on an oval. Solely Kirkwood and Christian Lundgaard are inside one race of factors (max is 54 in a race) of Palou.
2. Will Staff Penske mount a comeback?
It hasn’t been a powerful begin for Staff Penske however there have been promising glimpses. Josef Newgarden completed second at St. Pete, Scott McLaughlin bought the pole at St. Pete and Will Power improved 23 spots within the final two races from his qualifying positions. However there have been irritating moments, reminiscent of Newgarden’s belts coming unfastened at Lengthy Seaside, McLaughlin’s wreck and hybrid points at Thermal and Energy’s opening-lap wreck at St. Petersburg. The staff must qualify higher, because the drivers have a median beginning place of 13.4. Good factor Indianapolis, the place the staff is historically robust, is true across the nook.
3. Who might be nervous after the take a look at?
There are 34 vehicles entered for the Indy 500 and which means one driver will miss the sphere. There are seven drivers who’re doing one-offs: Marco Andretti (Andretti), Ed Carpenter (Ed Carpenter Racing), Helio Castroneves (Meyer Shank), Jack Harvey (Dreyer Reinbold), Ryan Hunter-Reay (Dreyer Reinbold), Kyle Larson (Arrow McLaren), and Takuma Sato (Rahal Letterman Lanigan). All of them ought to be in stable vehicles. And if they’re all quick, who among the many full-time drivers may battle? The Dale Coyne vehicles each didn’t make the race in 2023 (with Nolan Siegel and Katherine Legge) and Siegel once more missed in 2024. However Rinus VeeKay has had a good begin for the staff this yr, and they’ll hope that Jacob Abel will get on top of things rapidly.
4. How will Larson’s second try on the double be totally different?
Kyle Larson is in his second yr trying the double, and so long as there isn’t a rain on race day, this one ought to end up higher. He ought to be comparatively snug within the automobile from the beginning. However he nonetheless has manner fewer reps than his competitors. At the very least INDYCAR has now set the parameters for what Tony Kanaan has to do to be allowed to exchange Larson. Final yr, there appeared to be confusion about what was required for a substitute driver to get within the automobile.
5. Do you have to care concerning the hybrid at Indy?
This would be the first time the hybrid engine might be used at Indianapolis. It shouldn’t be an enormous challenge, however you by no means know. The perfect factor might be if it isn’t talked about and drivers can go 100%, particularly late within the race, with the flexibility to make the passes which have created the best spectacle in racing.
6. When will the 2026 schedule be introduced?
Final yr, the schedule was introduced in mid-June, together with the beginning of the cope with FOX Sports activities. One of many essential focuses must be the subject that began this piece — the lengthy breaks amid the races within the first two months of the season. That ought to be fastened with St. Pete and the brand new race in Texas (Arlington) taking place on back-to-back weekends or having only one week in between. If Mexico Metropolis will get added, that could be a potential April race (though it could presumably substitute Thermal).
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent a long time protecting motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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