The winner of the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, 23 August at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, could well be remembered for the wrong thing. ‘Oh you were the winner of that 500, the one with no spectators!’ This year’s great race has all the ingredients to be remembered for many other reasons.
Eight past winners are among the field of drivers assigned to 33 cars entered for the 2020 event. Three-time winner Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009) and single winners Scott Dixon (2008), Tony Kanaan (2013), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014), Alexander Rossi (2016), Takuma Sato (2017), Will Power (2018) and Simon Pagenaud (2019) are the past winners aiming for another victory this year in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Castroneves will bid to become the fourth member of the elite four-time winner’s club featuring A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears.
Two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso returns to the “500” this year with Arrow McLaren SP. Alonso will attempt to become just the second driver – joining Graham Hill – to complete the “Triple Crown” of global auto racing with victories in the Indianapolis 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans and Monaco Grand Prix.
The field includes six past INDYCAR champions: Dixon, Hunter-Reay, Kanaan, Josef Newgarden, Pagenaud and Power. Newgarden is the reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion.
A talented group of five drivers will compete for Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge Rookie of the Year honors: Oliver Askew, Dalton Kellett, Pato O’Ward, Alex Palou and Rinus VeeKay. O’Ward (2018) and Askew (2019) are former Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires champions.
Andretti Autosport has entered six cars, the most of any team.
Practice opens Wednesday, Aug. 12 and runs through Friday, Aug. 14. Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15 and Sunday, Aug. 16. The traditional final practice, expanded to two hours as part of Miller Lite Carb Day, will be held Friday, Aug. 21.
2020 ENTRY BREAKDOWN:
Winners (8): Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan, Simon Pagenaud, Will Power, Alexander Rossi, Takuma Sato.
Rookies (5): Oliver Askew, Dalton Kellett, Pato O’Ward, Alex Palou, Rinus VeeKay.
U.S. drivers (15): Marco Andretti, Oliver Askew, Ed Carpenter, Conor Daly, Santino Ferrucci, Colton Herta, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Sage Karam, Charlie Kimball, JR Hildebrand, Josef Newgarden, Spencer Pigot, Graham Rahal, Alexander Rossi, Zach Veach.
International drivers (18): Fernando Alonso, Helio Castroneves, Max Chilton, James Davison, Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson, Ben Hanley, Jack Harvey, James Hinchcliffe, Tony Kanaan, Dalton Kellett, Pato O’Ward, Simon Pagenaud, Alex Palou, Will Power, Felix Rosenqvist, Takuma Sato, Rinus VeeKay.
Engines (33): Chevrolet 17, Honda 16 (all cars use Dallara chassis and Firestone tires).
At-track schedule (all times local):
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 12 (All times are Eastern)
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 veterans practice, NBC Sports Gold
1-3 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation and Refresher Program, NBC Sports Gold
3-5:30 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 practice, NBC Sports Gold
THURSDAY, AUG. 13
11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 practice, NBC Sports Gold
FRIDAY, AUG. 14
11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 practice, NBC Sports Gold
5:45 p.m. – Qualifying Draw
SATURDAY, AUG. 15
8:30-9:30 a.m. – Indianapolis 500 practice (two groups), NBC Sports Gold
11 a.m.-4:50 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 qualifying, NBC Sports Gold (3 p.m. NBC)
SUNDAY, AUG. 16
11-11:30 a.m. – Indianapolis 500 practice (Fast 9 eligible cars), NBC Sports Gold
1:15-2:15 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 Fast 9 Shootout, NBC (Live)
3:30 p.m.-6 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 practice, NBC Sports Gold
FRIDAY, AUG. 21
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 final practice, NBCSN
11 a.m.-4:50 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 qualifying, NBC Sports Gold (3 p.m. NBC)
SUNDAY, AUG. 23
1 p.m. – NBC on air
1:30 p.m. – Driver Introductions
2:23 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines”
2:30 p.m. – 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge (200 laps/500 miles), NBC (Live)
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