Brickyard's Turn Of Fortune: Turn 2's Enduring Grip On Indianapolis 500 Drama

Turn of fortune in many ways is a double-entendre given this 110th Running Of The Indianapolis 500. There are four turns that have to be negotiated 200 times in order to celebrate a turn in someone's racing fortunes. Bravo to Felix Rosenqviet for passing David Malukas to lead just one lap - the most important last lap in the most dramatic fashion in the history of this motor culture defining event. Image Credit: Matt Fraver NICS (2026) 

Brickyard's Turn Of Fortune: Turn 2's Enduring Grip On Indianapolis 500 Drama

The 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 just took place and it was a historic ride for all involved - all 350,000 plus and all who tuned in on Over-The-Air television (okay - all of you streamers too).

Turn 2 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long stood as one of the Brickyard's most unforgiving corners, where banking transitions, dense pack traffic, and unrelenting high speeds repeatedly rewrite race outcomes. This bend, and its symmetric counterpart in Turn 4, has delivered both fortune and misfortune across six decades of Indianapolis 500 history. From spectacular airborne flips that drivers survived to incidents that prompted major safety reforms, the corner's legacy reflects the Speedway's constant demands on drivers and machinery.

The historical pattern is clear and sobering. In the 1975 race, Tom Sneva made wheel contact in Turn 2 while running fifth, sending his McLaren airborne into the catch fence where it tore apart and caught fire; Sneva walked away with minor burns and injuries in one of the era's most dramatic survivable wrecks. In 1996 practice, pole-sitter Scott Brayton suffered a right-rear tire deflation entering Turn 2 at nearly 230 mph, resulting in a fatal impact with the outside wall. The 2010s added further chapters, including Ed Carpenter's 2015 Fast Friday flip exiting the corner, Sébastien Bourdais's heavy 2017 qualifying crash that caused serious fractures and sidelined him, along with later incidents involving Callum Ilott in 2022, Scott McLaughlin's airborne wall hit in 2025 practice, and Kyle Larson's race-ending Turn 2 spin in the 109th running.

That reputation carried into preparations for the 110th Indianapolis 500. On Monday, May 18, 2026, during Practice 7's race-trim sessions, Alexander Rossi lost the rear of his No. 20 Chevrolet exiting Turn 2 in traffic and spun hard into the SAFER barrier. Pato O'Ward, running close behind, spun under braking while attempting to avoid him and made secondary contact, while Romain Grosjean checked up and hit the wall. The multi-car incident damaged cars for Rossi and O'Ward severely enough to require backups, sent Rossi to the hospital for evaluation of minor finger and ankle injuries, and brought out a red flag before thunderstorms ended the session. It stood as the first major wall contact of the Month of May.

Which leads us to the brilliant insights presentation put together by commentator Tom Rinaldi for FOX in their Pre-Race 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 package entitled Turn Two. The following is a transcript captured via audio file that struck a cord and acted as a basis for a song created using the staff and AI tools available to anyone so led to create - with inspiration found in the following:

Presenters Chris Myers, Danica Patrick, and Tony Stewart siting on a portable studio desk on Gallager Pavilion square at the Indiana Motor Speedway with the crowd in Motor Culture world's largest form of a "Cars & Coffee" behind the pagoda.. Image Credit: FOX Pre_Race via FUBO (2026)

**FULL Turn 2 Package Transcript**

**Chris Myers:** A lot of the tradition has built from the local part of this speedway and this state and has reached out globally, nationally. And America's 250th birthday, by the way, it's going to be on everyone's mind like this race is today. But today, drivers have Turn 2 on their mind, not 2%, as in Turn Two. As Tom Rinaldi rejoins us. Tom, you got more on Turn Two.

**Tom Rinaldi:** Chris, if you were to look down at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from above or at a map of the track, you'd essentially see a rounded rectangle with four corners or turns which appear exactly the same. But if you were to talk to any driver, what those drivers would tell you is each has its own personality. And when it comes to where we are right now, Turn Two, it's a beguiling and difficult mix of menace and chance, opportunity and danger.

Four turns. Identical dimensions. Equivalent measurements. But in history... 

**Scott Dixon:** When you come to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Turn Two probably demands the most respect.

**Tom Rinaldi:** .. and psychology.

**Will Power:** Turn Two is risk first, reward second. With all the turns, Turn Two has definitely been my weakness. 

**Tom Rinaldi:** And strategy. 

**Scott McLaughlin:** Some of the biggest crashes, some of the biggest moments have happened through Turn Two.

<<< Film Clip - Tom Sneva | AJ Foyt >>>

**Tom Rinaldi:**  Turn 2 is a high-speed study in volatile geometry. Start with the invisible vortex of shifting air and pitiless wind. 

**Josef Newgarden:** Turn 2 doesn't have a lot of shielding. 

**Scott McLaughlin:** The wind is always a massive factor there. It's one line where you cannot be late, you can't be early. You've got to be perfect.

**Scott Dixon:** You've got to imagine that we're kind of driving fighter jets - wings that push the car down. You know, 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of downforce, making that car stick to the road. 

**Josef Newgarden:** When you get these crosswind profiles hitting the nose at the wrong time. It'll get underneath you, and it can shove you out toward the wall.

<<< Film Clip - Scott Dixon >>>

. Image Credit: FOX Pre_Race via FUBO (2026)

**Tom Rinaldi:**  Add in more elements: changing track temperatures, turbulent air wake, limited visibility - often pushing drivers past their limits and into aerodynamic disaster.

<<< Film Clip - Kyle Kirkwood | Alexander Rossi >>>

**Josef Newgarden:** We had a very tough wreck this week. You know, you have to be able to see something terrible at times and immediately understand it and then erase it. 

**Will Power:** When the crash is in practice, watching it on screen is worse. It always makes you apprehensive. That's why I don't watch them. Try not to even look at them. 

**Scott McLaughlin:** It basically is a bit of a wake-up call that, okay, well, she bites if you get it wrong.

**Tom Rinaldi:** For all its challenges, Turn 2 has singular opportunity. A corner where an inch of space and a breath of wind can measure the difference between catastrophe and glory. 

**Scott McLaughlin:** Turn 2 for me is the part of the track where if you get that right, it's your last opportunity to go for the win.

**Scott Dixon:** And understand how it can help you through the race. Not necessarily how it can hurt you, but you've really got to understand how it can help you.

**Will Power:** If you hate the turn, you'll never conquer it. But if you take it as a challenge... You will get it.

**Josef Newgarden:** You know, two of my best moments here at the track have come off Turn Two. It ended up being a very important moment both times that we won the race. That doesn't mean it can't catch me out in the future at some point.

**Tom Rinaldi:** Back in September and October, a 100-foot stretch of Turn 2 was actually torn up and repaved. Why? Because the original bricks underneath had started to shift, creating a bump in the track along Turn 2 - an additional challenge for drivers.

Will Buxton, Townsend Bell, and James Hinchcliffe, siting on a portable studio desk on the front straight of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the crowd walking the grid in Motor Culture world's largest form of a "Cars & Coffee" with teams and drivers. Image Credit: FOX Pre_Race via FUBO (2026)

**Will Buxton:** Beautifully said, Tom. What a lovely piece. Townsend (Bell), James (Hinchcliffe), you have both experienced this. I want to roll to something that Joseph Newgarden said: "The corners of this track are like having four children. You love them all equally, but you raise them individually."

**Townsend Bell:** That's absolutely right, and Turn Two has always been a mystery because the groove is just a little bit more narrow there. The consequences seemingly just a little bit bigger. It's dangerous in all four corners, but Turn Two demands your best. Listen, my body can still feel the crash I had back here in 2014. Left rear suspension let go. I was in contention to win that day. Ended up punching a hole in the SAFER barrier.

You see me bring the steering wheel off, but guys, when I came to a stop, my knee was in front of my face. You can't get out of these cars unless the steering wheel's off. I had hit so hard backwards that it bent the steering shaft, the steering column all the way over. The steering wheel was bent up, and I'm sitting there with my knee like this. I didn't know what state I was in. I couldn't breathe for about 45 seconds. Turn Two has left its mark on my body, no doubt.

**Will Buxton:** And James, it wasn't Turn Two, but you know more than anybody the perils of this circuit and what those walls have in store for you when it all goes wrong.

**James Hinchcliffe:** Well, look, it doesn't matter what corner you're talking about at 220 plus miles an hour. It doesn't tickle when you hit the wall. 

For me, the drivers talked about the wind. This is the only corner that has a gap in the grandstands. There's a gap after the end of the grandstands, before those Turn Two suites. And the other thing that's so unique about it is there's that bump going in that Tom talked about. The wind can just create a tunnel effect through there and really catch drivers off. 

The other thing that's so challenging, I think, Townsend, is the Turn Two suites. They sit so much closer to the racetrack than any of the grandstands or anywhere else around here that visually it looks a little bit different. It throws drivers off. It's so easy to get wrong. Absolutely, it's a place you have to respect around the speedway.

**Will Buxton:** Well, Scott McLaughlin knows that only too well. He had a nightmare of an Indy 500 last year, which was over before it began. But a violent crash knocked him out of top 12 qualifying down there at Turn Two. Thankfully, he'd be OK to race. Penske got his car back up and running for the 500 itself.

In 2026, for the 110th running, he seeks redemption.

**Georgia Henneberry:** And your sixth Indianapolis 500, how can you and the three team ensure that it's your best one yet?

**Scott McLaughlin:** Look, I think we're as prepared as we can be. I mean, the Pennzoil Chevy has been solid all month. I feel like we've sort of flown under the radar, but had reasonable speed the whole way through. And I feel really comfortable. Our best session was on Friday. So I got our list done and ready to go. I can't wait. I just can't wait to create a new storyline. And yeah, last year put a lot of things in perspective for me. So I'm really excited to turn the table.

**Georgia Henneberry:** This month has certainly been a progression for the team. Friday was the first day you said you have checked all those boxes. How confident are you in your race?

**Scott McLaughlin:** Yeah, super confident. Everyone's going to say they feel good, don't get me wrong, but I've got all the tools that I need to win this race. Hopefully we can dot the I's, cross the T's, and make it happen.

**Chris Myers:** Good luck, Scott. 

So Turn Two getting the attention. How would you rank them in terms of toughness? You agree starting with two would be the worst if you go through the four corners?

**Danica Patrick:** Man, I'd have to say one, two, three, four. It actually goes in order. But to just pick up on Scott McLaughlin there, he went from a pole in 2024 to the Indy 500 to crashing out before it even started in 2025. I just want to point out how hard it is to drive these cars. Someone like him that's the best of the best out there, able to still make a mistake under those conditions. It just shows how focused these drivers have to be, whether they're under caution going slow or going 240 miles an hour.

**Chris Myers:** The corners, you rank them real quick. 

**Tony Stewart:** I had a different order. I always thought Turn Two, Turn One, Turn Four. The easiest was Turn Three to me.

**Chris Myers:** All right. Well, hopefully they're turning the right way as we continue here.

ENDS

Brickyard's Turn Of Fortune

Theme for the toughest turn at the Greatest Spectacle In Racing

LYRICS

**Verse 1**  

Four turns on the map look the same,  

But only one carries your name.  

Rounded bricks and shifting wind,  

Turn Two waits with teeth bared and grin.  

Crosswinds howl, downforce fights the air,  

One line only — you must be there.  

Late or early, she’ll punish your name,  

Throw you hard into the wall of flame.

**Pre-Chorus**  

Risk comes first where the brave ones play,  

Biggest wrecks and biggest wins in the fray.

**Chorus**  

Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,  

That’s the soul of Turn Two, stranger.  

She’ll baptize you in fire and fear,  

Then hand you glory if you stay clear.  

Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,  

Four words that define her temper.  

Love her or hate her, you’ll never be free —  

Turn Two is where champions come to be.

**Verse 2**  

Fighter-jet wings at two-twenty flat,  

Turbulent wake trying to snatch you back.  

Track temps rising, vision gone blind,  

One wrong twitch and you’re flipping through sky.  

She bites when you’re lazy, rewards when you’re bold,  

Old bricks still whisper the stories of old.  

They tore her up, laid new pavement down,  

But the spirit of Turn Two still rules this town.

**Chorus**  

Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,  

That’s the soul of Turn Two, stranger.  

She’ll baptize you in fire and fear,  

Then hand you glory if you stay clear.  

Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,  

Four words that define her temper.  

Love her or hate her, you’ll never be free —  

Turn Two is where champions come to be.

**Bridge**  

An inch of space, a breath of wind,  

Separates the fallen from the ones who ascend.  

Erase the crash burning in your mind,  

Trust the line and leave the wreck behind.

**Final Chorus (bigger, with gang vocals)**  

Menace! Chance! Opportunity! Danger!  

Turn Two calling out your name louder.  

I’ve won here, I’ve lost here, I’ll race her again,  

She’s the heartbeat of the 500 wind.  

Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,  

My beautiful, brutal savior.  

Last chance to chase that checkered light —  

Turn Two… take me home tonight.

**Outro (building then fading)**  

Four turns look the same…  

But only one ever called my name.  

Menace… Chance… Opportunity… Danger…  

Brickyard's Turn Of Fortune - Turn Two.

ENDS

Race day itself on May 24 added its own Turn 2 punctuation. Early on laps 17-18, Ryan Hunter-Reay spun and hit the wall in Turn 2, collecting Katherine Legge as she tried to avoid the incident; both drivers were eliminated quickly and triggered the first caution. Late in the event, rookie leader Caio Collet got loose exiting Turn 2 around lap 191, overcorrected into the outside wall, and slid with a right-rear fire, prompting a red flag for cleanup with few laps remaining. On the restart, Mick Schumacher brushed the wall in the Turn 1-2 area, bringing out the final caution and setting up a one-lap green-white-checkered finish - not to mention one of the most positive and deciding developments in Turn 2 when Felix Rosenqvist stayed outside - side-by-side - of this teammate Marcus Armstrong to finally complete a pass in Turn 4 and sling past David Malukas for the closest finish in INDY500 history.

Turn 2 has seen fewer headline tragedies than Turns 1 or 4 in the modern SAFER-barrier era, yet it remains a persistent high-risk zone during practice traffic simulations and race conditions. As teams analyze data from the 110th running, the corner's influence on Indianapolis 500 outcomes continues to demonstrate the razor-thin margin between strategy, car setup, and survival at the Brickyard.

As for the historic part of the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 that all of the above took place, Felix Rosenqvist secured his first Indianapolis 500 victory in his eighth career start, winning the 110th running presented by Gainbridge by a razor-thin margin of 0.0233 seconds over David Malukas - the closest finish in “500” history, surpassing the previous mark of 0.043 seconds set by Al Unser Jr. over Scott Goodyear in 1992.

The race produced a record 70 lead changes, eclipsing the previous high of 68 from 2013. Rosenqvist, who led 25 laps, became the third Swedish winner of the event, joining Kenny Bräck (1999) and Marcus Ericsson (2022). Driving for Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian, he delivered the team its second Indianapolis 500 triumph.

The finish marked the fifth time in race history that the leader entering the final lap was passed for the win. Malukas lost the lead on the last lap, joining a list that includes recent defeats by Pato O’Ward (2024), Marcus Ericsson (2023), JR Hildebrand (2011), and Marco Andretti (2006).

At 34 years old, Rosenqvist became the first driver of that age to win since Hélio Castroneves in 2009. Starting fourth, he joined an elite group as only the eighth winner from that position. It was also the first victory for car No. 60 and the 17th for a Honda engine.

Notable performances included Mick Schumacher finishing as the top rookie in 18th, Romain Grosjean advancing from 24th to ninth, and Conor Daly posting the race’s fastest lap at 225.126 mph. Pato O’Ward recorded his fifth top-four finish in seven starts without a win. Santino Ferrucci completed his eighth consecutive full 500-mile distance, while Hélio Castroneves set a new all-time mileage record (12,480 miles) despite a mechanical DNF on Lap 194.

The 2026 race featured 14 different lap leaders and a record 26 lead swaps between Alex Palou and Scott Dixon. Palou, the pole sitter, led the most laps with 59. In a contest defined by its back-and-forth intensity, Rosenqvist delivered a historic last-lap masterstroke to etch his name into Indianapolis 500 lore.

... notes from The EDJE

FOOTNOTE:

Tom Rinali's 2025 Presentation Package On IMS Walls >>>

TAGS: #Indy500, #Turn2, #BrickyardFortune, #IndyCrashes, #RacingHistory, #110thIndy500, #Rosenqvist, #ClosestFinish, #Indy5002026, #LastLapDrama, #MeyerShankRacing, #SwedishWinner, #RecordLeadChanges, #INDYCAR,  #HondaPower, #TheEDJE

Californian Alexander Rossi Experiences The Highest Of Highs To Dangerous Lows From Race 5 To Race 6

It never rains in Southern California, but it does rain in Indiana - qualifications sessions were rained out and pushed to the morning of race day Saturday. Alexander Rossi hanging out in the pits during the open practice session held at the end of April. Image Credit: Paul Hurley - NICS (2026)

Californian Alexander Rossi Experiences The Highest Of Highs To Dangerous Lows From Race 5 To Race 6

All that is embedded within a successful race driving career requires being in the present in order to gain maximum benefit. The calendar does not pause for nostalgia or ceremony; it simply demands focus when the visor drops. 

Yet for one week in April 2026, Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi, the Californian who first tasted immortality as a rookie winner of the Indianapolis 500 a decade earlier, lived the full spectrum of what the sport can deliver - honors usually reserved for legends long retired, followed by the raw, unscripted drama that only a steering wheel and throttle can provide. From the rarified air of the world’s most honored automotive museums to a bronze medallion embedded in the West Side sidewalk of the Long Beach Convention Center along Pine Avenue, the week outside the cockpit was pure celebration. Then came the racing itself.

Launch Racers Night At Petersen Automotive Museum

Wednesday night belonged to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Racers Night returned as the unofficial kickoff to Long Beach weekend, and Rossi headlined the sold-out evening alongside reigning champion Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson. Inside the glass-and-steel halls lined with priceless machinery, the trio sat on stage for a candid, high-energy conversation hosted by Marshall Pruett. Rossi, relaxed in a way only a hometown hero can be, fielded questions about his return to ECR, the new hybrid systems, and what it felt like to be back on the streets where he had twice stood atop the podium in years past. 

Laughter echoed off the vintage Ferraris and Porsches as the drivers traded stories; the atmosphere was electric, the kind of night that reminds everyone why they fell in love with the sport. For Rossi, it was validation before a single tire had even turned in anger on the temporary circuit just down the freeway.

Image Credit: Brandon O'Brian - Motor Driven Images (2026)

Thursday late morning hours brought the public ceremony for the 20th Anniversary Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame. Under bright Southern California skies, Rossi stood alongside the family of the late former Mayor Robert “Bob” Foster. At 11 a.m. in front of the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center on South Pine Avenue, the two-time Acura Grand Prix winner unveiled his 22-inch bronze medallion. 

LBMWOF planted medallion featuring Alexander Rossi joins other great names in the sidewalk on the East side of Pine Avenue (outside of Turn 7 of the AGPLB street track) just at the front entrance of the Long Beach Convention Center. Image Credit: Ralph Garcia via FB/META (2026)

The plaque, featuring renditions of his major achievements, was permanently set into the sidewalk ... joining an exclusive roster of motorsports immortals. Rossi, now a new father, spoke of deeper meaning in the honor; it was not just about past victories but about legacy for the next generation of California racers. The crowd, a mix of die-hard fans and local dignitaries, cheered as the former mayor’s contributions to bringing and sustaining the Grand Prix were also enshrined. Rossi posed for photos, signed autographs, and soaked in the moment. For a few hours, the pressure of the upcoming race felt distant.

Full Video Of The Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame Induction Ceremony

Presentation Credit: LBTV

Then the weekend turned serious. Race 5 of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES - the 51st Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach - demanded Rossi stay firmly in the present. Practice showed promise; the ECR crew had rolled out an upgrade package and fresh livery on the No. 20 Chevrolet, and Rossi responded by climbing as high as second-quickest in Practice 1, the car responding cleanly through the famously bumpy Turn 9 brake zone. Qualifying proved trickier. Starting 18th on the grid after a solid but not pole-contending run through the Firestone reds, Rossi faced the street circuit’s familiar challenge: traffic, walls, and the need for precision over 90 laps.

Come race day, the Californian delivered exactly the kind of effort fans have come to expect. Battling from mid-pack, he methodically picked off positions, capitalizing on strategy and clean air when it mattered. He crossed the line ninth - his 100th top-10 finish in the series - gaining nine spots and showing the kind of resilient drive that defines a veteran. 

Alexander Rossi taking the hard right of Turn 3 - The Fountain Turn - on his way to a nice save finish at the Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien - Motor Driven Images (2026)

No lap led, but the performance was competitive, the car improved, and the weekend’s off-track honors felt earned on-track. Rossi had stayed present, maximized what the ECR Chevrolet could deliver, and left Long Beach with momentum heading into the Month of May.

Three weeks later, the calendar flipped to Race 6: the Sonsio Grand Prix on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the traditional opener to the most famous month in racing. The stakes were higher, the eyes of the racing world already shifting toward the Indianapolis 500. Rossi rolled out with the same focus that had carried him through Long Beach. For 20 laps the No. 20 ran respectably in the midfield. Then, without warning, the new hybrid system failed. The car stuttered and died just past the yard of bricks on the long front straight - precisely where Rossi had taken the checkered flag in that unforgettable 2016 rookie triumph.

What followed was the dangerous low that no amount of prior celebration could prepare for. Rossi’s Chevrolet sat motionless on the racing line just past the Yard of Bricks while cars approached at over 170 mph. Race control initially displayed only a local yellow, leaving the field to thread past the stranded machine at full speed. Debris from an earlier incident had already lingered elsewhere on track; now this. Two full laps passed before a full-course caution was finally thrown - by which time Rossi, frustrated and unbuckled, had climbed from the cockpit himself, steering wheel in hand, and made his way to safety, on foot. 

During the FOX Sports broadcast, it was amazing for viewers to see both a Yellow flag & light and a Green flag & light on display in the same camera shot down the IMS Road Course reverse Yard Of Bricks straightway.

In the raw aftermath captured by Speed Cafe, the Californian made no effort to temper his displeasure. “Well, it’s pretty annoying to have failures on the car because of a product we didn’t ask for that doesn’t improve the racing. So that’s frustrating,” Rossi said of the hybrid system that had betrayed him on lap 21. He saved his sharpest barbs for the officiating: “Second of all, the fact that it took that long to throw a full course yellow when the cars on the front straight were going by at 170 miles an hour also seems insane when they don’t let us drive in the wet yesterday.” 

The hybrid failure ended his day early on lap 21, but the safety concerns were immediate and legitimate. Other drivers quickly voiced support for Rossi’s blunt post-race criticism of both the finicky new technology and the decision-making that left him parked like an unwanted lawn ornament on one of the fastest stretches of the circuit. 

From the Petersen stage and Pine Avenue plaque to a stalled Chevrolet on the front straight under questionable flags, Rossi had lived the highest of highs and the most dangerous of lows in the span of just eight days. Yet the lesson, as it always does in this unforgiving sport, remained unchanged: a successful racing career demands ruthless presence. The ceremonies fade, the cheers quiet, and the next green flag waits for no one - least of all a Californian with a fresh Walk of Fame medallion and a very public opinion about hybrid gremlins.

Now, with the Month of May stretching out before him like a glorious, unpredictable gauntlet, Alexander Rossi will arrive at the Indianapolis 500 the same way he left Long Beach, eyes forward, visor down, and fully prepared for whatever mix of glory, heartbreak, and mechanical mischief the Brickyard decides to serve up next. In INDYCAR, after all, the only sure thing is that the next turn might just make you a hero … or leave you wishing you’d stayed at the museum.

Screengrab of the Yard Of Bricks start/finish line at IMS during the first day of practice - May 12, 2026 - for the Indianapolis 500 where all 33 drivers become used to driving the road that will consume their lives for the rest of the month of May. Note that Alexander Rossi is listed early in P6, but the month is early and the rules for qualifications have changed in order to keep eyeballs tuning in since the field has only 33 cars entered - no traditional "Bump Day" qualifications.. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - FOX FS2 via FUBO (2026)

UPDATE - Post Sonsio Grand Prix - The "Rossi Ruling"

IndyCar Officiating has moved swiftly in the wake of Saturday’s controversial Lap 21 incident involving Californian Alexander Rossi, issuing a significant procedural adjustment that takes immediate effect across the remainder of the season.

Effective immediately, race control will no longer factor in pit windows or the running order of cars on track when deciding whether to escalate a local Yellow into a Full Course Yellow (FCY). Local Yellow procedures themselves remain unchanged. The decision to deploy the FCY will now rest primarily on driver status, vehicle position and condition, the location and readiness of safety personnel, recovery access, and the speed differential between the affected cars and approaching traffic.

“The Lap 21 incident on Saturday made clear that there needs to be a cleaner standard for how race control moves from a local to a Full Course Yellow,” IndyCar Officiating’s Independent Officiating Board chair Raj Nair said.

“IndyCar Officiating, with IndyCar’s full support, has made this change of approach to ensure that the only inputs to the Full Course Yellow escalation are safety ones. Streamlining the assessment will also save time as competitive considerations are no longer a factor.”

Along the catchfence - image left - from Yard Of Bricks Start/Finish - Rossi stalled on trackside right - to the next flag station - Yellow/Green Not A Pretty Picture! Image Credit: FS1 via FB/META Screengrab (2026) 

IndyCar President Doug Boles, who also serves as president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, added, “The most important job in race control is to ensure the safety of our drivers, crews, safety workers and fans. Saturday highlighted that we must not waver from that central mission and aligning everyone on that philosophy was critical to discuss over the last 48 hours.”

In the high-stakes world of IndyCar, where split-second calls can swing fortunes from podium celebrations to dangerous moments in the barriers, this clarification reads as a direct response to the chaos that unfolded around Rossi’s car on that Lap 21. What began as one of the season’s most electric afternoons for the Californian driver quickly spiraled into one of the most scrutinized safety interventions of the year. By stripping competitive elements like pit strategy and field position out of the FCY equation, officials appear intent on removing any perception that racecraft or timing could influence a safety call.

Whether this streamlined protocol prevents future gray-area deployments or simply tightens the guardrails remains to be seen on track. But for now, the message from the tower is unmistakable: safety first, strategy second, and no more dancing between the two when the Yellows fly.

ENDS

UPDATE - Alexander Rossi lives to drive another day >>>

ALEXANDER ROSSI, No. 20 Java House Chevrolet, Qualified 2nd: “This was a huge team effort from all the boys and girls at ECR. Conditions today were really hard, it was changing for every run. We didn’t do anything the same for each of the three runs. Our last run was the best. That’s a huge win for the Java House crew, and a big win for Chevy to be on the front row. The car has been incredible all month. Obviously, you hope for pole, but a front row is so cool here and something I haven’t accomplished for a really long time. I am thrilled with how today went and can’t wait to get on track tomorrow and make the car even better.”

OF NOTE: 



For the second time in his career, Alexander Rossi will start on the front row of the Indianapolis 500. Rossi's first four-lap average of 231.580 miles per hour had him sitting 6th out of 33, easily advancing him to the Top 12. In the next round of qualifying, Rossi's four-lap average of 231.005 miles per hour was 6th fastest, earning him a spot in Firestone Fast 6 and a chance at the Indianapolis 500 pole position. Rossi saved his best four-lap average for last with a speed of 231.990 miles per hour. He waited on the provisional pole until being bumped down one position by Alex Palou. Rossi will start 2nd in next weekend’s Indianapolis 500.

Rossi burst onto the scene at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2016 as he won the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500. The Nevada City, California native was the first American rookie to win since 1928. His impressive consistency at IMS includes finishes of 7th or better in seven of his ten starts, including six Top 5s. Last year, Rossi paced the 33-car field for 14 laps, swapping the lead multiple times with his teammates as the trio of ECR Chevrolets ran 1-2-3. On Lap 73, a gearbox issue and an ensuing pit lane fire eliminated the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet from contention. The 2026 Indianapolis 500 will be his 11th attempt.

Earlier this season, Rossi scored his 100th Top 10 finish in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. He is an eight-time winner in the series, highlighted by his Indianapolis 500 victory, and has 30 total podium finishes. Rossi’s career has taken him worldwide, with wins in Formula 2, World Series by Renault, and the 24 Hours of Daytona, along with starts in Formula 1, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Baja 1000, and the Bathurst 1000.

Rossi continues to pilot the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet this season. Java House is an authentic cold brew coffee brand that began with brick-and-mortar cafés in the greater Indianapolis area and is now revolutionizing the beverage industry with its versatile Peel & Pour™ single-serve pods. Each 100% recyclable pod can be poured into iced or hot water with no machine or brewer required. The innovative, Indianapolis-based brand’s full portfolio of beverages includes Amazingly Smooth cold brew coffees, lattes, teas, and hydration drinks.

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: #AlexanderRossi, #IndyCar, #LongBeachGP, #AcuraGrandPrix, #WalkOfFame, #SonsioGP, #Indy500, #MonthOfMay, #EdCarpenterRacing, #RacingHighsAndLows, #Petersen, #TheEDJE

Rahal Fires Back: DC Grand Prix A 'Massive Opportunity' For IndyCar Amid Fan Backlash

Not a pretty or soy-boy around the track, INDYCAR beginning of Content Days are filled fancy prep work for photoshoots and interviews to be used on FOX Sports broadcasts, website background information, and general breadth of "content" to be used for any imagined purpose. Image Credit: Rahal NICS via Letterman Lanigan FB/META (2026)

Rahal Fires Back: DC Grand Prix A 'Massive Opportunity' For IndyCar Amid Fan Backlash

In the crisp air of IndyCar's preseason media content day at Indiana Convention Center on January 27, 2026, veteran driver Graham Rahal stepped to the microphone and delivered a no-holds-barred defense of the proposed Washington, D.C. street race, brushing aside online critics with the kind of blunt candor that has defined his long career in open-wheel racing.

Rahal, piloting for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, described the potential "DC Grand Prix" as nothing short of a game-changer for the NTT IndyCar Series - a rare spotlight moment handed directly to IndyCar, not NASCAR or Formula 1. The idea originated from high-level discussions involving the White House and the Department of Transportation, pitched to Penske Entertainment as part of the nation's buildup to the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy laid out the formal concept, which quickly gained traction when President Donald Trump offered public support through social media. IndyCar officials have confirmed that talks with the White House remain active as feasibility studies continue.

When pressed by reporters about the wave of negative commentary flooding social platforms - fans vowing to skip broadcasts or tune out entirely ... Graham Rahal didn't pull punches.

"It's a massive opportunity for INDYCAR," he declared. "It's honestly a bit shameful sometimes when I read comments on social media. You see people saying, 'Oh, that's the one race I'm not going to watch this year.' I mean, get a life. Get a life."

Speculation about IndyCar racing in Washington, D.C. in 2026 began soon after FOX acquired a 33% stake in Penske Entertainment, giving the broadcaster a share of both IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Prominent pictured from left to right Roger Penske, 2019 INDY500 Winner Simon Pagenaud, and President Donald J. Trump. Image Credit: IndyCar Reports via FB/META September 26, 2025

The driver's frustration stemmed from what he sees as a missed perspective among some in the fanbase. For Rahal, this isn't just another street circuit on the calendar; it's a singular chance to showcase IndyCar in the heart of the nation's capital, potentially on or near the iconic National Mall.

"If you really are an INDYCAR fan, this is a huge opportunity that's been given to us," he continued. "It hasn't been given to NASCAR, not to Formula 1 - it's been given to INDYCAR."

Ever the self-described patriotic type, Rahal made clear that the appeal transcends any political lens.

"I'm a patriotic guy," he said. "I don't care who's in the White House. If we get to go race in Washington, that would be awesome, especially in a place like the National Mall."

The comments arrive at a pivotal moment for IndyCar, which continues to seek ways to elevate its profile amid a crowded American motorsports landscape. A race in D.C. - if it clears logistical, security, and permitting hurdles (a very big if) - could deliver unprecedented exposure, drawing eyes from beyond the traditional racing audience during a year of nationwide bicentennial celebrations.

Rahal's straightforward take cuts through the noise: embrace the shot or step aside. For a series hungry for growth, the veteran driver's words serve as both a rallying cry and a reality check. Whether a DC Grand Prix ultimately materializes remains an open question, but Graham Rahal has already made his position unmistakable.

UPDATE - January 30, 2026 

President Trump put pen to paper on Friday with an executive order green-lighting the ambitious **Freedom 250** street race right in the heart of Washington, D.C.

The plan, tied to the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations, calls for the event to roar through the capital over the August 21-23 weekend - slotting neatly (or perhaps precariously) into the open date between the Markham, Ontario round and the Milwaukee Mile classic in Wisconsin. 

Trump directed D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to team up with his administration on logistics, while tasking the Departments of Interior and Transportation with mapping out a track layout in collaboration with IndyCar - and, crucially, sourcing the funding to make it all happen.

Rahal highlighted the sheer scale of the challenge ahead: pulling off a major street circuit in the nation's capital on such a compressed timeline would test every aspect of organization and coordination. Add to that the longstanding ban on advertisements across Capitol grounds, and the usual sponsor-laden livery of IndyCar machines presents an immediate regulatory hurdle that could require creative solutions or legislative tweaks.

Adding star power to the Oval Office signing ceremony were Roger Penske - who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump back in 2019 - and FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks. Trump, ever the promoter, predicted the race could shatter attendance records since it would throw open the gates to the public, turning the National Mall and iconic monuments into a massive, free-admission grandstand for what promises to be a spectacle of speed and patriotism.

For Rahal and the rest of the paddock, this remains a bold, headline-grabbing proposal with plenty of real-world obstacles still to navigate ... but one that could deliver an unforgettable chapter in American motorsport history if the pieces fall into place. Stay tuned; the revs are just starting.

... notes from The EDJE

From Horse Race To Horsepower On Pennsylvania Avenue - Theme Song

TAGS: #IndyCar, #IndyCarOnFOX, #Indy500, #DCGrandPrix, #GrahamRahal, #TheEDJE

NTT INDYCAR Hybrid Re-Gen Punch Reveals Insights During Indy 500 Qualifications

Alex Palou - 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Day After Photoshoot. Image Credit: Travis Hinkle via Penske Entertainment (2025)

NTT INDYCAR Hybrid Re-Gen Punch Reveals Insights During Indy 500 Qualifications

The 2025 Indianapolis 500 qualifications, spanning nearly 40 hours and involving 34 cars, provided the first real-world insights into the performance and strategic implications of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ new hybrid regeneration system. The weekend’s intense sessions highlighted how the electric hybrid power unit influences racing dynamics, challenging initial assumptions and revealing its nuanced role in competition.

Throughout the qualifications, the hybrid system’s additional 70+ horsepower was a focal point for FOX Sports commentators Will Buxton, James Hinchcliffe, and Townsend Bell. They frequently speculated that the extra power could propel drivers into the top 12 positions or the Firestone Fast Six, potentially overtaking competitors by boosting lap speeds. 

However, the flogging of this performance expectation was repeatedly unmet. Even when drivers posted competitive first laps, the hybrid’s power deployment did not consistently deliver the anticipated speed surges to climb/overtake in the order, prompting a reevaluation of its impact.

Robert Shwartzman - Indianapolis 500 Front Row Photo Shoot - Image Credit: Chris Owens via Penske Entertainment (2025)

In a post-qualifications interview, FOX Sports race announcer Will Buxton offered deeper perspective after speaking with drivers, particularly the top two qualifiers: veteran Takuma Sato and rookie Robert Shwartzman.

He found that despite Sato’s extensive INDYCAR experience and Shwartzman’s lack of oval racing background, both secured the front row, showcasing the hybrid system’s adaptability. Shwartzman revealed that he and Sato opted for higher downforce setups, prioritizing car stability over minimal drag. This approach allowed them to maintain precise control, extracting performance through “fingertip feel” rather than pushing the car to its limits with a looser, riskier setup.

Takuma Sato - Indianapolis 500 Front Row Photo Shoot - Image Credit: Titus Slaughter via Penske Entertainment (2025)

Buxton noted that most drivers adopted a similar hybrid deployment strategy during qualifications, using a gradual trickle of power across each lap. Sato, however, deviated slightly, hinting at a unique approach that contributed to his pole position. The real intrigue, Buxton emphasized, lies in how the hybrid system will influence race day strategy. Unlike the Push-to-Pass system, which provided a temporary horsepower boost, the hybrid’s regenerative energy can be accumulated by lifting off the throttle, particularly in traffic, and deployed strategically on straights or out of corners.

This dynamic introduces a strategic layer reminiscent of Formula 1’s Drag Reduction System (DRS). The race leader, unable to regenerate energy as effectively as trailing cars, may become vulnerable to overtakes. Conversely, drivers in the pack can leverage recharged energy for bursts of speed, potentially reshaping race dynamics. 

“This is a step into the unknown,” Buxton remarked, underscoring that none of the 33 drivers have raced with this system before on a superspeedway oval, making the 2025 Indy 500 groundbreaking in the reliability and advantage functions of the Hybrid-Powered Dallara platform.

Compared to previous performance-enhancing racing technologies like F1’s DRS or INDYCAR’s Push-to-Pass, the hybrid regeneration system appears less transformative in delivering raw speed. Its primary benefits seem to lie in mitigating tire degradation and managing weight distribution, subtly enhancing car balance rather than providing a dramatic power advantage.

Alex Palou & Family at the yard of bricks start/finish line of Indianapolis Motor Speedway  - 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Day After Photoshoot - Image Credit: Chris Owens via Penske Entertainment (2025)

Following the Indy 500, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou emerged victorious, solidifying his dominance in the 2025 season. After six races of the 17-race championship, Palou, the only driver since A.J. Foyt in 1979 to win five of the first six races, has clearly mastered the hybrid regeneration system’s subtle advantages, leveraging its strategic nuances to claim his first oval race and INDY 500 crown to further cement his legacy in INDYCAR’s hybrid era. 

Proving, that, ultimately, the driver controls the outcome of his own finish.

With his closest competitor of Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward at -112 point deficit, Alex Palou is well on his way - with 306 points in six of seventeen races scheduled - to a fourth INDYCAR SERIES Championship in five years (2021, 2023, 2024). 

Welcome the Hybrid-Powered age of NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship season racing.

Post Script >>>

Pato O'Ward has an opinion on the real value of HYBRID-Powered engines in NTT INDYCAR SERIES racing. O'Ward in the pits at the Chevrolet Grand Prix Of Detroit - Image Credit: Aaron Skillman via NICS (2025)

'The hybrid has brought zero benefit’ – O'Ward - Racer May 30, 2025

... notes from The EDJE


FEATURED SYNDICATION >>>

TAGS: NTT INDYCAR SERIES, hybrid regeneration system, #INDY500, #IndyCarOnFOX, #HYBRID, Re-Gen Punch, Pato O'Ward, Alex Palou, The EDJE

Surprise, Surprise For Rookies PREMA & Swartzman At 109th INDY500 Qualifications

ROOKIE Robert Shwartzman from the rookie team PREMA captures the NTT P1 Pole position - nipping our Takuma Sato.Robert Shwartzman & PREMA Team - Indianapolis 500 Qualification Photo By: John Cote via NICS (2025)

Surprise, Surprise For Rookies Shwartzman & PREMA At 109th INDY500 Qualifications

In a stunning turn of events at the 109th Indianapolis 500 qualifications on May 17-18, 2025, rookie team PREMA Racing and its debutant driver Robert Shwartzman defied expectations to claim pole position at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The European powerhouse, new to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and grappling with a lackluster start to the 2025 season, showcased remarkable pace as Shwartzman, a 25-year-old Israeli rookie with no prior oval experience, delivered a blistering four-lap average of 232.790 mph to secure the top spot. This historic achievement marked PREMA as the first team to win pole in its IndyCar debut and Shwartzman as the first rookie pole-sitter since 1983, sending shockwaves through the paddock.

Israeli Robert Shwartzman, a 2019 FIA Formula 3 champion and 2021 FIA Formula 2 runner-up, built a versatile racing career with PREMA, served as a Ferrari F1 reserve driver, and competed in endurance racing before joining the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2025. Image Credit: Will Buxton via FB/META (2025)

PREMA Racing, a celebrated European racing team, has encountered a difficult start in its debut 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, struggling through the first five races: the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, The Thermal Club Indy Grand Prix, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park, and the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

Entering IndyCar with high expectations, the team fielded two Chevrolet-powered cars driven by veteran Callum Ilott and rookie Robert Shwartzman, but their performances have been lackluster. As the newest of the series’ 11 full-time teams, PREMA has grappled with the complexities of IndyCar’s competitive field, hybrid systems, and tire management, resulting in consistent finishes in the lower half of the 27-car grid.

Callum Ilott, a 25-year-old British driver with 38 prior IndyCar starts and two top-5 finishes, was expected to lead PREMA’s charge, but his results have disappointed. In St. Petersburg, he finished 19th after a suboptimal hard-tire strategy and a mistake at Turn 10, while at Thermal, he placed 26th following a refueling issue and a collision with Shwartzman. Ilott’s qualifying struggles, often starting outside the top 20, have compounded the team’s challenges, forcing him to fight from the back. Strategic missteps, setup issues, and PREMA’s inexperience have hindered Ilott’s ability to replicate his past IndyCar performances, despite his familiarity with tracks like Barber and the Indianapolis road course.

The front row for the 109th Indianapolis 500, held on May 25, 2025, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, consists of the following drivers, listed with their starting positions, car numbers, teams, engines, and key driver information, based on qualifying results:

Robert Shwartzman (Pole Position)

Car Number: 83

Team: Prema Racing

Engine: Chevrolet

Qualifying Speed: 232.790 mph (4-lap average)

Driver Information: A 25-year-old rookie from Israel, Shwartzman made history as the first Israeli-born driver to qualify for the Indy 500 and the first rookie to earn pole since Teo Fabi in 1983 - Fabi secured the pole with a four-lap average speed of 207.395 mph, setting a new track record at the time, further, Fabi became the first rookie to win the pole since Walt Faulkner in 1950. This is Shwartzman's and Prema Racing's first-ever oval race. His pole-winning performance stunned the paddock, showcasing his talent in a highly competitive field.

Takuma Sato

Car Number: 75

Team: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Engine: Honda

Qualifying Speed: 232.478 mph

Driver Information: A 48-year-old veteran from Japan, Sato is a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner (2017, 2020). Known for his aggressive driving style, he has 11 career IndyCar starts at Indy, with a strong track record, including multiple top-10 finishes. Sato’s experience and speed make him a formidable contender, and his front-row start marks a return to prominence for RLL Racing.

Pato O’Ward

Car Number: 5

Team: Arrow McLaren

Engine: Chevrolet

Qualifying Speed: 232.098 mph

Driver Information: A 26-year-old from Mexico, O’Ward is a rising star in IndyCar with five career wins since 2021. He has yet to win the Indy 500 but has finished sixth or better three times, including a strong runner-up finish in 2024. Known for his bold passing moves, O’Ward’s front-row start positions him as a favorite for the 2025 race.

Despite a rocky start to their 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES campaign, PREMA Racing has proven their mettle on the grand stage of the Indianapolis 500, with rookie Robert Shwartzman’s historic pole position at 232.790 mph and Callum Ilott’s respectable 23rd-place qualification at 230.704 mph. The team’s early struggles on road and street courses, where they often languished in the lower half of the 27-car field, exposed the challenges of adapting to IndyCar’s diverse demands. However, PREMA’s relentless focus on oval preparation, bolstered by Ilott’s experience and rigorous testing at tracks like Thermal and Barber, has begun to yield results, suggesting a stronger aptitude for ovals where setup and aerodynamics are paramount. 

As the checkered flag looms for the 109th Indianapolis 500 on May 25, 2025, PREMA Racing stands as an unexpected force, guided by sporting director Ryan Briscoe and reserve driver Romain Grosjean. Shwartzman’s composure under pressure and Ilott’s steady contribution have silenced doubters, positioning the team as contenders in a race defined by surprises. With their European precision and a steep learning curve behind them, PREMA’s breakthrough at Indy signals a potential turning point, setting the stage for an electrifying race day and a promising second half of the season.

... notes from The EDJE

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TAGS: #PREMA, #Shwartzman, ##indycaronfox, #INDY500, #Ilott, 109th Indianapolis 500, #sato, #pato, #NTTINDYCAR, #TheEDJE