Good afternoon from IMS, amd welcome to Fast Friday! We had a nice drive up, until we approached I-465, where there was a huge pile-up. We cut through neighborhoods and finally arrived at the track at 2:00 pm EDT – just as the cars were taking the track for the rain delay.
It’s Fast Friday at IMS!
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on May 15, 2026 by OilpressureQualifying Preview
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on May 15, 2026 by Oilpressure
In the interest of full disclosure, I did not go to the track yesterday. If you read my post from Wednesday evening, you know that I have been under the weather (and that’s putting it mildly). After a terrible night, I woke up Thursday in pain, with little sleep and with a trip to Nashville staring me in the face to go get Susan and bring her back up today. Spending a day at the track can wear you out under normal circumstances. When you feel awful, it gets worse. I thought if I was going to safely make it to Nashville, I’d better forego the track. That’s when you know how bad I felt.
Katherine Legge Will Attempt The Double
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on May 14, 2026 by Oilpressure
Last week, I saw a blurb on social media that Katherine Legge was planning on doing The Double; you know – race the Indianapolis 500 in the early afternoon, then jet off to Charlotte to run the Coca-Cola 600 that night.
500 Practice Wrap-Up Day Two
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on May 13, 2026 by Oilpressure
As perfect as yesterday’s weather was, today’s was anything but. I arrived at the track around 10:00 am. It was sunny when I got out of the car and I debated whether or not to even bring my jacket. I’m glad I did. I think the warmest it got today was 64°. That was not bad when the sun was out. Unfortunately, that was only about 45-minutes into the session. The skies darkened, the wind stiffened and it was not enjoyable to be outside. The sun finally broke through around 3:00, but it remained windy and cold.
The Day the Pace Car Crashed
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on May 13, 2026 by Oilpressure
If you have spent any time at all listening to The Talk of Gasoline Alley, you know there are certain topics that Donald Davidson does not like talking about. Sometimes it’s because he is asked about the same topic several times per year, and it gets old telling the story. The 1969 Jigger Sirois aborted pole run comes to mind. Another one is the story of Jim Hurtubise removing the engine out of his old Mallard and replacing it with ice and several cases of Miller High Life before placing the car at the end of the Bump-Day qualifying line. When the gun went off at 6:00, Hurtubise opened the hood of the front-engine roadster and offered up free beer to all of those around.
500 Practice Wrap-Up Day One
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on May 12, 2026 by Oilpressure
Opening Day on the IMS oval did not disappoint. I arrived around 12:30, and it was sunny and just a little cool. As I went out to meet up with my friend Paul Dalbey and his son, Jack; I decided I would keep my jacket on. That was a big mistake. Although the thermometer was in the mid-70s, it seemed warmer than that.
Guess Where I’m Headed Today
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on May 12, 2026 by Oilpressure
If you are reading this on Tuesday morning, I am on my way back to IMS for the week of practice for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Susan has to work some this week and she’s not quite as keen on watching cars go around a track for four days as I am. I will be at the track today, Wednesday and (most of) Thursday, and will drive back to Nashville Thursday night. After spending Thursday night in Nashville, Susan and I will drive back up Friday morning and (hopefully) arrive in time for the start of Fast Friday. It used to be that I would come up on Tuesday and fly Susan up Thursday night. But with me being retired and the cost of air travel, that option is no longer in our budget.
