Indy

Roger Penske will not pretend he is not disappointed he can't open the gates to spectators for his first Indianapolis 500 as steward of the iconic event. Penske purchased Indianapolis Motor Speedway in January and spent an additional $15 million on capital improvements for an enhanced fan experience. Without fans roaming the property and celebrating at downtown Indianapolis establishments, the buildup to Sunday's race has lacked the energy that elevates the Indy 500 into a world-class event.

Everything was new to Mike Tirico when he walked past the famed pagoda that dominates the front stretch at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, assumed his broadcast perch high above pit lane and proceeded to host his first Indy 500. One year after NBC assumed the rights from longtime broadcaster ABC, the network is preparing to bring one of the iconic events in sports to a potentially record-setting television audience Sunday.

Marco Andretti was 2 months old the last time his venerable racing family led the field to green at the Indianapolis 500. In this strange pandemic-plagued season, he ended a 33-year Andretti drought by winning the pole. Jeff Andretti went 0 for 3.

Jimmie Johnson finally fulfilled his childhood dream of driving an Indy car with a test session Tuesday. When the seven-time NASCAR champion finished turning laps, he was sold on figuring out how to race next year in the IndyCar Series. NASCAR has been so good to me and I am so proud of the success I've had.

The Indianapolis 500 was postponed Thursday until August because of the coronavirus pandemic and won't run on Memorial Day weekend for the first time since 1946. “The month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is my favorite time of year, and like our fans, I am disappointed that we have had to reschedule the Indianapolis 500,” said motorsports giant Roger Penske, who finalized his purchase of IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier this year. The Indianapolis 500 began in 1911 bu

IndyCar isn't sure when it can get its cars on track to officially start the season. IndyCar's first iRacing event will be Saturday with a 25-car field. IndyCar, like all sports, has been idled during the coronavirus pandemic, which hit the United States just as the series was ready to open its season.

NASCAR and IndyCar reversed course Friday and pulled the plug on racing this weekend, with IndyCar also suspending its season through the end of April due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. NASCAR called off Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway and next weekend's events at Homestead-Miami Speedway. IndyCar was scheduled to open its season Sunday on the streets of downtown St. Petersburg without fans.

Fernando Alonso will again attempt to complete motorsports' Triple Crown with a return to the Indianapolis 500 in May with McLaren. The team failed to qualify Alonso for the race last season in a spectacular comedy of errors, including not having its car properly prepared to put the two-time Formula One champion in the field. “We beat ourselves,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown said Tuesday.

He edged out Alonso, so he wants to be the first to win from the 33rd spot.

Polycarbonate screen will be anti-reflective, anti-fogging

Only 1.8040 seconds separates the pole from the final starting driver.

Voice of 'start your engines,' from family that saved the Speedway.

Hits an eye-opening top performance of 227.791 mph.

4-time winner Rick Mears advising 3-time winner Helio Castroneves.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway didn't actually start off as a brick surface.

Honda engines like Alonso's have had a run of bad luck. One blew up on Friday.

"Today we ticked all the boxes," Fernando Alonso said.