The 2026 Open Test is now in the books. It was a good two-day stretch that saw only a little over an hour lost to weather. Both days were partly sunny, cool and breezy – much like what everyone can experience in a couple of weeks.
Archive for April, 2026
The Open Test is Now Complete
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on April 29, 2026 by OilpressureDay Two of the Open Test
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on April 29, 2026 by Oilpressure
Good morning from a damp Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It rained overnight as was expected; but I think the hope was that the track would be dry by 10:00 am, It wasn’t. It is now 11:15 am as I type and the first few cars have now taken they track. The new schedule is as follows: 11:15 to 1:15 all eligible cars; 1:15 to 2:15 Katherine Legge Refresher; 2:15 to 5:00 all eligible cars.
What a Way to Spend the Day!
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on April 28, 2026 by Oilpressure
There is something about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that stirs my soul. I was talking to a friend of mine here today and he asked me how the appeal stays alive with me all this time. He is here covering the race as a way to make a living. I am here because this place has always been such a part of my life, I just can’t get enough of it.
Welcome to the Open Test!
Posted in IndyCar on April 28, 2026 by Oilpressure
For the first time this season; Welcome to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway! I was late leaving Nashville this morning, and I can’t blame it on season. Instead, I’ll blame Mother Nature. Storms ripped through Nashville last night. I got up at 4:00 and it was still going strong. Storms ended around 4:30, but oddly enough – our power went out at 5:30. I was already running behind and still had some packing to do. Finishing up with a flashlight did not speed things up. Oh well, I got here eventually.
Guess Where I’m Headed This Morning
Posted in IndyCar on April 28, 2026 by Oilpressure
This morning, I am heading out of town early to head up to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the annual Open Test on the IMS oval. I first started attending the Open Test in April of 2018. I’ve not been to every one of them since. I know I missed one in 2020, if they even had one – but I think I’ve missed one or even two others since 2018.
No Thanks; We’ve Grown Enough Already
Posted in IndyCar on April 27, 2026 by Oilpressure
Retirement from my day job is suiting me well. As the Month of May approaches, I have settled into a daily routine of doing projects in and around the house, taking a shower and then watching old IndyCar videos on You Tube in the late afternoon until Susan gets home. Sometimes I’ll subject her to whatever I’m watching, but not always. She’s not as much of a fan of 35 year-old races as I am. But they are getting me fired up for the Month of May.
Random Thoughts on Long Beach
Posted in IndyCar on April 20, 2026 by Oilpressure
The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach has brought us many memorable and exciting races over its 51-year history. Yesterday’s race was not one of them. The box score shows that there were five lead changes among four drivers. That was from the pit stop shuffles during the first set of pit stops. Yet, if you subjected yourself to all 90 laps of Sunday’s race; you know that it was between two drivers – pole-sitter Felix Rosenqvist and Alex Palou, who started third.
