From the moment the checkered flag flew at the 2022 Indianapolis 500 until now, the IndyCar Series was dedicated to examining what it could do to improve the oval track racing package, which generally means faster. , closer and more exciting. But they also didn’t want the racing to be any easier, or too easy, because over the course of 500 miles, it’s still supposed to be Brickyard, after all, and it’s not supposed to be easy.
So for 2023, and specifically for the Indy 500, there’s a new aerodynamics package that includes mandatory stability wickers, 3 degrees of increased adjustability for the rear wing, an underwing flap wicket and optional underwing internal bargeboards. . (Wickers, for those unfamiliar, can add downforce by increasing the pressure on the pressure side of a wing and decreasing the pressure on the suction side.) higher degradation factor than previous variants of its tyres, which are generally known for holding grip much longer than expected.
The result?
“It’s not a big, dragging wicker on the wing or anything,” Team Penske’s Will Power said at a news conference after setting the fastest time in practice Monday. “It’s the closest I’ve been able to run to a car at this location without a problem.
“It would be ridiculous to have enough downforce for everyone to get through, but all there is is tire grade, so I think that will create some good racing in the field.”
Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O’Ward disagreed, telling NBC Sports that “the aerodynamic parts seem to have done nothing for racing. It’s not ideal when you’re 10th or 11th in a group, or even when you’re sixth or seventh.” . You can not do anything”.
Power explained that he believed what would really make the difference for Sunday’s race would likely be tire degradation, explaining that “the left-hand sides are softer. They get vibrations more easily as the tires degrade… No. I’ve had a set without a vibe yet I’ve had a couple that’s been massive and you have to pit and I’ve had a couple the last one where I only did a full period but it’s still [on] there. Is [completely] left side: front left and rear left. It depends on which slides more.
“I think it makes the racing better…Yeah, on a nice hot day I think it will be a good race.”
How to watch Indianapolis 500 number 107
- Date: Sunday, March 28
- Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway 4.02 kilometers (2.5 miles), four turns
- Time: Sunday – 11 a.m. ET
- TELEVISION: NBC, Peacock, Universe
- Stream: fuboTV (try free)
what to watch
Friday’s Carb Day speeds, the traditional final practice of the Indianapolis 500, again had the usual suspects at the top of the speed charts. Takuma Sato and Scott Dixon led Chip Ganassi Racing 1-2, and Power was third fastest along with his fastest time in Monday practice. Carb Day was also a bit more aggressive than Monday, with many drivers going three car wide and taking things a bit more in the corners than they had. Is that setting things up for a crazy Indy 500 on Sunday? I guess we’ll have to look to find out.
Carb Day Speeds
- Takuma Sato, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 227.885 mph
- Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 227,285
- Willpower, Team Penske, Chevrolet, 226,953
- Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 226,945
- Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Autosport, Honda, 226,872
- Agustín Canapino, Juncos Hollinger, Honda, 226,532
- Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport, Honda, 226,300
- Romain Grosjean, Andretti Autosport, Honda, 226,286
- Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, Chevrolet, 226,766
- Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, Chevrolet, 225,565
- Tony Kanaan, Arrow McLaren SP, Chevrolet, 225,400
- Conor Daly, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 225,378
- Jack Harvey, Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan, Honda, 225,251
- Alexander Rossi, Arrow McLaren SP, Chevrolet, 225,233
- Duck O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP, Chevrolet, 225.114
- David Malukas, Dale Coyne Racing, Honda, 225,019
- Benjamin Pedersen, AJ Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet, 224,905
- Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 224,751
- Marco Andretti, Andretti Autosport, Honda, 224,702
- Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda, 224,659
- Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 224,627
- Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dreyer & Reinbold, Chevrolet, 224,519
- Sting Ray Robb, Dale Coyne Racing, Honda 224,158
- Simon Pagenaud, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda, 224,094
- Christian Lundgaard, Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan, Honda, 223,996
- Devlin De Francesco, Andretti Steinbrenner, Honda, 223,838
- RC Enerson, Abel Motorsports, Chevrolet, 223,814
- Felix Rosenqvist, Arrow McLaren SP, Chevrolet, 223,783
- Katherine Legge, Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan, Honda, 223,562
- Graham Rahal, Dreyer & Reinbold, Chevrolet, 223,491
- Santino Ferrucci, AJ Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet, 223,444
- Callum Ilott, Juncos Hollinger, Honda, 222,265
- Rinus Vee Kay, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 222,166
