Indy’s traditional rain creates problems

INDIANAPOLIS — Ladies and gentlemen, start your scrambling.

The rain that washed out 3½ days of practice and one day of qualifications for this year’s Indianapolis 500 is now forcing teams to adjust schedules, spend more time deciphering computer analyses and, of course, look for more speed.

Those cramming sessions could continue all week.

With a forecast calling for more rain Wednesday and a chance of rain later in the week, teams will have to figure out the best way to prepare for the second weekend of qualifications as well as race day.

“It’s a little tough,” said Oriol Servia, the Spanish rookie at this race. “We had rain all week, so we couldn’t test as many things as we wanted. We’re going to have to go qualifying next weekend, which means that this next week instead of focusing 100 percent on race setup, we’re going to have to think of qualifying setup.”

Drivers and teams weren’t the only ones disappointed with the latest cancellation Sunday.

It may also complicate the efforts of drivers like Roberto Moreno and Jimmy Kite, who are currently unemployed, to find a ride for the May 25 race. Many teams that might be tempted to fill extra cars are unlikely to do that until the regular drivers are assured of starting spots.

The weather only permitted 11 drivers to qualify for the 33-car field Saturday. Track officials hope to fill the remaining 22 spots next Saturday, leaving Sunday as the traditional Bump Day when non-qualified drivers can attempt to make the race by knocking the slowest qualifiers out of the field.

Joie Chitwood, the Speedway president, and Brian Barnhart, the Indy Racing League’s president of competition, wanted cars to get at least three hours to practice and qualify Sunday when starting spots 11 through 22 were scheduled to be filled.

Now they’ve been pushed back to next weekend.

“I think when you deal with something like that, you go with your last resort,” Chitwood said.

Chitwood said that with no practices scheduled for Monday or Tuesday, many team members already had plans to return home, and that track officials didn’t want to create any more complications.

Now the teams still trying to qualify must figure out how to balance race preparations with qualifying preparations.

There is only one day of practice scheduled for race week and that is a brief session on May 23, making this week’s three full practice sessions — Wednesday, Thursday and Friday — likely to be extremely busy. Presuming, of course, it is dry.

One thing drivers won’t have to worry about is wearing out tires.

“They have a lot of tires, they get 35 sets for the month of May,” Barnhart said. “That is going to make for a lot of track activity. You are going to so many laps around here Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with focus on race day and preparations for that, it’s going to be a very busy second weekend.”

Still, they’ll have to figure out what went right and wrong in Week 1, what it will take to make the race and how best to get ready.

It will be challenging for everyone, but especially for the former Champ Car drivers, who are at Indy for the first time, and Indy veterans such as former pole-winner Bruno Junqueira, who spun out during his only qualifying attempt Saturday. None of the former Champ Car drivers claimed one of the top 11 starting spots.

Some teams will use the down time to regroup.

Both of Bobby Rahal’s drivers, rookies Alex Lloyd and Ryan Hunter-Reay, crashed this weekend, and Conquest Racing was still trying to catch up after rookie Jaime Camara crashed in rookie practice last Monday.

“We are continuing to rebuild Camara’s car,” team owner Eric Bachelart said Sunday. “We are just taking time to recover from the accident and improve our cars.”

But the only way to know for certain whether they’re making progress is by running laps, which were in short supply during the first week and could be again this week.

“We don’t have a whole lot of track time to be out there squandering around working on qualifying trim,” IRL veteran and new team owner Sarah Fisher said. “There’s not just enough time to do that. We have to make the best use of our time we can.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

AquaSox outfielder Carson Jones gets settled in the batter's box during Everett's 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 6, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox show progress, but drop fifth straight to Canadians

Jones’ go-ahead, 3-run homer is spoiled in 4-3 loss to wrap up homestand.

Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, April 18, 2025, in Toronto. (Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Three Mariners added to MLB All-Star Game

Major League Baseball announced today that Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez,… Continue reading

George Kirby (68) of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at T-Mobile Park on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenne / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Pirates finish historically bad offensive series in Seattle

Similar to the first two games of the series, the… Continue reading

Seattle Storm forward Alysha Clark (32) and Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) guard each other during a free throw in a WNBA basketball game between the Aces and the Seattle Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena Friday, June 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter / Las Vegas Review-Journal / Tribune News Services)
Storm uses third-quarter thunderbolt to down Liberty

Rookie Dominique Malonga scored 11 and took over in the third quarter for Seattle.

AquaSox pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje follows through on a pitch during Everett's 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 5, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox blanked by Vancouver as losing skid continues

Everett generates just three hits in 3-0 loss to the Canadians on Saturday.

AquaSox infielder Charlie Pagliarini starts to swing at a pitch that he would launch for a two-run home run in Everett's 9-2 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 4, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox lack spark in Independence Day loss to Vancouver

Everett draws eight walks, but has just two hits in 9-2 loss to the Canadians.

Kimberly Beard, a rising senior at King's, stands next to the results board after winning the girls hammer throw at the Nike Outdoor National Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy Donna Beard)
Beard, Tupua shine at Nike Outdoor Nationals

The rising seniors make their mark on a national stage amidst a busy summer schedule.

Everett AquaSox shortstop Colt Emerson catches the ball at second base for the first out in a double play during the Opening Day game against the Hillsboro Hops on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Emerson’s preparation finally paying off in Everett

The AquaSox shortstop is coming off his best month in High-A. Here’s how it came together:

The Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez, right, claps after stealing second base during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Witt Jr. and Mariners’ bullpen both slide, KC wins series

The Kansas City Royals found a way against the Seattle Mariners on… Continue reading

Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins (4) tries to drive past Dallas Wings guard JJ Quinerly (11) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Monday, May 19, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Storm)
Storm survive Dream on Diggins game-winner

Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler combined for 45 points in the 80-79 win.

Julius Miettinen listens to a coach during Kraken Development Camp on-ice session for forwards on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pair of Silvertips check status at Kraken Development Camp

Julius Miettinen hopes to take strides back in Everett, while Kaden Hammell turns pro.

Randy Arozarena of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with the team trident after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Mariners overcome Perez to beat Royals

The Kansas City Royals found themselves in another close encounter against the… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.