Weather lets drivers focus on new cars

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) - Tuesday marks the fourth day of practice for the drivers and their teams in preparation for the Indianapolis 500. This season is the first for the Dallara car and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the first oval track that these cars will run. These two factors have all the teams grinding in order to put their cars and drivers in the best position to take the crown at the 96th Indianapolis 500.

Young Drivers Finding Success

Although Josef Newgarden is a rookie, he is not letting his youth and inexperience at the speedway slow him down. In fact, Newgarden of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing has taken the top speed of the day two of the first three days – albeit with the help of a tow. He took the first day’s fastest practice time with a speed of 220.250 mph and bested that on day three by turning in the track’s best time of all three days with a top speed of 222.486 mph.

ONLINE EXTRA | Take a sneak peak at the garages at IMS.

Newgarden's not the only rookie with early success. Noblesville-native Bryan Clauson, also with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, had day one’s third best pace with a top speed of 219.632 mph and day two’s second best lap at 221.173 mph. There are five rookies competing in this year’s Indianapolis 500.

Weather Not a Factor

Rarely can drivers and their teams look at practice week’s weather forecast and not have to worry about the threat of rain, but that is exactly the case for Tuesday and the remaining practice days leading up to Pole Day Qualifications on Saturday. The Forecast 8 team is forecasting Tuesday’s weather to be partly cloudy with a high of 80 degrees. The only slight chance of rain is overnight but the rest of the week will be dry with highs to be from the low to mid 80s.

Two Drivers Still Grounded

Two drivers have yet to participate in practice because of a lawsuit between their team’s owners and their engine provider. Katherine Legge and Sebastian Bourdais of Dragon Racing have been grounded because team owner Jay Penske’s lawsuit with the team’s engine provider, Lotus. Penske is trying to cut ties with Lotus and find his two drivers a new engine provider. No deal is expected to come to fruition in time for Legge and Bourdais to participate in Tuesday’s day four of practice.

WISH-TV Sports Director Anthony Calhoun will be live at noon from the Speedway. Gates open at 10 a.m. Practice runs from noon until 6 p.m. Admission is $10.