It’s Carb Day at IMS!
Welcome to a sunny, but cool IMS. We had a bit of an issue this week at home and it delayed us getting into the track. Susan somehow misplaced her media credentials after Sunday. We don’t know if they slipped out of a bag, or if they possibly made their way into the trash can at home. Actually, we know that didn’t happen because we were both digging through garbage on Wednesday night.
The good folks here in the IMS Media Center were kind enough to replace her actual media credential that allowed access to the media center, but the silver badges and Race Day passes are sold out – so they couldn’t replace those. Still she is here. We really appreciate IMS replacing her main credential. According to policy, they did not have to do that.
We had to pick it up at the Admin Building, which was a mad house. From parking there to leaving was probably close to 45 minutes. Then the media lot was full of cars with no media stickers on the windshield – including the handicapped spots. Susan has a handicapped placard because she cannot really walk great distances. We ended up parking a long way away and walking in. I know, first world problems. But with camera equipment, lap tops and other stuff – we are loaded down walking in.
When we got to the media center, it was just in time to see Graham Rahal’s car with an oil fire in the back. It did little damage, but they are done for the day.
As I type, Josef Newgarden has the fastest lap at 225.687 mph. Takuma Sato, Scott Dixon, Devlin DeFrancesco and Will Power round out the Top-Five. Pole-sitter Robert Shwartzman is currently 30th with a top speed of 219.006 mph.
We are going to head out and catch the second half of practice. Hopefully, her partial credentials will get her into the pits for photos. If not, you may have to put up with my iPhone pics.
I’ll be back late in the day with a wrap-up post of practice and other Carb Day festivities. Please check back later.
George Phillips
Oilpressure 
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