Team Penske to carry twin 'Yellow Submarine' livery for Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 races
Speed Demons Take Over Indianapolis
Indianapolis (AP) - Team Penske is feeling the heat in the Indy 500, with Alex Palou setting the pace for the second day in a row. The Honda-powered driver, who has dominated the IndyCar season with four victories, left Team Penske scrambling, posting a blazing speed of 227.546 mph.
Will Power and Josef Newgarden, Penske's fearless duo, clocked in with the second and third-fastest laps, but they couldn't match Palou's incredible pace. The Chevrolet-powered team is finally showing some muscle, with seven of the top eight speeds coming from Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, or their affiliates.
Palou's reign at the top wasn't without some competition. Scott Dixon of Ganassi was close behind, followed by Conor Daly, David Malukas, Marcus Armstrong, Helio Castroneves, and, surprisingly, a Penske affiliate, David Malukas.
The Penske drivers seemed encouraged by their two days of speed, given the domination Honda has displayed in the season's first five races.
Meanwhile, the conversation in Garage 34 is no longer just about Kyle Larson's second straight Memorial Day double. Team Penske added a new twist by announcing that three-time NASCAR Cup champion Joey Logano and IndyCar driver Scott McLaughlin will sport the iconic "Yellow Submarine" paint schemes in their respective races on May 25 - the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600.
"Everyone knows the 'Yellow Submarine' paint job and how iconic it is to the IndyCar Series, to Rick Mears," Logano said. "To be able to transition that into stock cars is pretty neat." Mears, a four-time Indy 500 winner, drove the "Yellow Submarine" to victory lane in 1984 and 1988.
Tony Kanaan, the 2013 race winner, could make a comeback as Larson's backup for the double, but bad luck seems to dog the ageless racer. Kanaan struggled to complete his refresher course, with rain postponing his first attempt and another delay jeopardizing his next chance until Thursday.
IndyCar's new broadcast partner, FOX, has taken steps to increase television ratings by adjusting the start times for five races in June and July. The biggest change involves the June 15 race in suburban St. Louis, which will now start at 8 p.m., five hours later than originally scheduled, to secure a prime-time spot.
Former IndyCar driver and team owner Sam Schmidt will hold his annual Racing to Recovery Black & White Gala fundraiser for the Conquer Paralysis Now foundation on May 23 in Indianapolis. Daughtry, a Grammy-nominated rock band fronted by Chris Daughtry, will perform at the public event that aims to collect another $2 million for spinal cord injury research.
References- https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing- https://www.stltoday.com/sports/motorsports/indycar-series/indianapolis-500/fox-announces-prime-time-slots-for-5-indycar-races/article_32b1c1a4-484b-5388-9341-db256c657354.html- https://www.thedrive.com/news/36605/indycar-changes-race-times-to-avoid-nascar-conflicts
The news from Toronto reported a significant moment in the IndyCar world as Team Penske contenders struggled to match the speed set by Alex Palou, despite Will Power and Josef Newgarden's impressive performances. In a related development, Joey Logano and Scott McLaughlin will bring the iconic "Yellow Submarine" paint schemes to their respective races in Indianapolis and Charlotte.
