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| April 2024 News |
| Article Index |
04/25 - Thunderbirds Flying Carb & Race Day
04/18 - New IndyCar Aeroscreen
04/08 - IMS Hosts NASA Eclipse Viewing Party
04/18 - New IndyCar Aeroscreen
04/08 - IMS Hosts NASA Eclipse Viewing Party
IMS Hosts NASA Eclipse Viewing Party
April 8 - More than 50,000 people from all 50 states and 33 countries came to the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway tov view the total solar eclipse. More than 80 percent of the guests were
first-time visitors to the Racing Capital of the World.
Guests arrived early for a full day of exhibits, experiments, panel-led discussions,
demonstrations, photo opportunities and IndyCar driver autographs. IndyCar team owner and
racer, Ed Carpenter, also ran some demonstration laps on the oval track.
The once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse occurred 3:06-3:09 p.m.
The event was presented by Purdue University and was designated one of several official
broadcast sites for NASA TV’s coverage of the astronomical phenomenon. The huge crowd
and the fact Indianapolis was in the direct path of totality also attracted a throng of local,
national and global news coverage from the Speedway. Media outlets covering the event live
from IMS included NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, FOX News and NewsNation.
April 8 - More than 50,000 people from all 50 states and 33 countries came to the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway tov view the total solar eclipse. More than 80 percent of the guests were
first-time visitors to the Racing Capital of the World.
Guests arrived early for a full day of exhibits, experiments, panel-led discussions,
demonstrations, photo opportunities and IndyCar driver autographs. IndyCar team owner and
racer, Ed Carpenter, also ran some demonstration laps on the oval track.
The once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse occurred 3:06-3:09 p.m.
The event was presented by Purdue University and was designated one of several official
broadcast sites for NASA TV’s coverage of the astronomical phenomenon. The huge crowd
and the fact Indianapolis was in the direct path of totality also attracted a throng of local,
national and global news coverage from the Speedway. Media outlets covering the event live
from IMS included NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, FOX News and NewsNation.
4/8 - Katherine Legge will drive the #51 e.l.f car for Dale Coyne Racing in the Indy 500.
4/10 - Christian Rasmussen, Kyffin Simpson and Nolan Siegel finished all three phases
of Rookie Orientation on the IMS oval while Marco Andretti, Pietro Fittipaldi and
Katherine Legge completed their refresher tests. 34 cars practiced afterward.
of Rookie Orientation on the IMS oval while Marco Andretti, Pietro Fittipaldi and
Katherine Legge completed their refresher tests. 34 cars practiced afterward.
4/18 - Reigning Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire will make his IndyCar debut this
weekend at Long Beach with Arrow McLaren as the latest stand-in for the injured David
Malukas.
weekend at Long Beach with Arrow McLaren as the latest stand-in for the injured David
Malukas.
New IndyCar Aeroscreen
April 18 - An updated, lightweight aeroscreen will be introduced as mandatory
equipment on all IndyCar cars for road and street course races, starting with the
Grand Prix of Long Beach this weekend.
The first version of the aeroscreen appeared as a mandatory driver safety device
to start the 2020 IndyCar season. It was composed of a halo, as had been
appearing on Formula 1 cars since 2018, along with a windshield.
A new lighter titanium halo was introduced this year that shaved off 6.8 lbs. It
features vents for increased overall driver cooling and a top front duct directing air
to the driver’s chest. The top duct will only be used at road and street courses.
IndyCar has determined that the heavy 9mm thick windshield does not have to be
as strong for the slower road and street courses. So, PPG has made a 6mm
windshield for those types of tracks and IndyCar will begin using them this
weekend at the Long Beach race.
The new screen is 4.3 pounds lighter. All together, the new aeroscreen is 11.1
pounds lighter than last year.
April 18 - An updated, lightweight aeroscreen will be introduced as mandatory
equipment on all IndyCar cars for road and street course races, starting with the
Grand Prix of Long Beach this weekend.
The first version of the aeroscreen appeared as a mandatory driver safety device
to start the 2020 IndyCar season. It was composed of a halo, as had been
appearing on Formula 1 cars since 2018, along with a windshield.
A new lighter titanium halo was introduced this year that shaved off 6.8 lbs. It
features vents for increased overall driver cooling and a top front duct directing air
to the driver’s chest. The top duct will only be used at road and street courses.
IndyCar has determined that the heavy 9mm thick windshield does not have to be
as strong for the slower road and street courses. So, PPG has made a 6mm
windshield for those types of tracks and IndyCar will begin using them this
weekend at the Long Beach race.
The new screen is 4.3 pounds lighter. All together, the new aeroscreen is 11.1
pounds lighter than last year.
4/24 - Indycar figured out that Team Penske broke rules regarding the push-to-pass
system at the St Pete race and two of their drivers were disqualified: Newgarden who
had won the race and McLaughlin who had finished 3rd. The team lost points, the prize
money and were fined $75,000.
system at the St Pete race and two of their drivers were disqualified: Newgarden who
had won the race and McLaughlin who had finished 3rd. The team lost points, the prize
money and were fined $75,000.
Thunderbirds Flying on Carb & Race Day
April 25 - The Thunderbirds are the U.S. Air Force's elite flight demonstration squadron.
They fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
They will be performing the fly-over during opening ceremonies for the Indianapolis 500 on May 26.
The Thunderbirds will also conduct a practice demonstration on Carb day May 24!
More action from the air on Carb Day will include a demonstration from the Red Bull Air Force -
an expert group of skydivers.
April 25 - The Thunderbirds are the U.S. Air Force's elite flight demonstration squadron.
They fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
They will be performing the fly-over during opening ceremonies for the Indianapolis 500 on May 26.
The Thunderbirds will also conduct a practice demonstration on Carb day May 24!
More action from the air on Carb Day will include a demonstration from the Red Bull Air Force -
an expert group of skydivers.
4/25 - Theo Pourchaire will fill in again for Arrow McLaren at Barber Motorsports
Park this weekend.
Dale Coyne Racing has tapped ELMS driver and Formula 2 veteran Luca Ghiotto to
race the No. 51 entry at Barber and also the Sonsio Grand Prix at IMS in May.
Park this weekend.
Dale Coyne Racing has tapped ELMS driver and Formula 2 veteran Luca Ghiotto to
race the No. 51 entry at Barber and also the Sonsio Grand Prix at IMS in May.
4/30 - After missing first 4 races due to a pre-season injury, David Malukas was
released from his multi-year contract with Arrow McLaren.
released from his multi-year contract with Arrow McLaren.