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The 92nd "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 25. The race will be broadcast live on ABC and the IMS Radio Network beginning at noon. ESPN2 will air an additional hour of pre-race coverage beginning at 11 a.m.

It's that time of year again and this here's a thread to discuss the events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for those of you interested in that sort of thing.

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The 91st Indianapolis 500 is on schedule to start at 1 p.m. (ET) despite morning rain at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Coverage starts at noon (ET) on ABC, the IMS Radio Network and XM Satellite Radio.

Milka Duno and Hugo Chavez bantered back and forth like a couple of flirty schoolchildren. When the two hooked up on the phone this week, Chavez invited Duno to "go for a ride" in his red Volkswagen Bug. Duno countered with an offer to attend a race, drawing a big laugh from the Venezuelan president "Give me a ride!" he exclaimed. "With you, I'll go anywhere." For many Americans, Chavez is a pompous blowhard, the world leader who called President Bush "the devil" and positioned himself as a righteous warrior against U.S. imperialism. Come Sunday, though, Chavez will have a...

It is with pleasure and certainly a large amount of relief that I come to you with an announcement of immense importance to many in this community. We have a race team with Tux at the wheel. Tom Chastain, a legend in the Indianapolis Racing Realm and the owner of Chastain Motorsports has announced his team's entrance in this year's Indy 500. And if we've got anything to do with it...as long as I have one struggling breathe left inside of me, that monster of a race car will have Linux splashed all over it when the flag drops. It...

interesting FReeping opportunity come May Sponsored by CITGO, Milka Duno becomes the first Latina to participate in both the Indy Pro Series and the Indy 500. (PRNewsFoto/CITGO Petroleum Corporation)

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and hit-and-run, Nevada police said on Friday. Unser was taken into custody near Henderson, Nevada, on Thursday after he failed field sobriety tests given to him by officers investigating a hit-and-run, Nevada State Trooper Kevin Honea said. Unser, 44, was booked on charges of hit-and-run, failing to report an accident, making an unsafe lane change and driving under the influence of alcohol. Honea said troopers responded to an accident outside Las Vegas shortly after 11 a.m. on Thursday in which a car crashed into a...

Sam Hornish Jr. may have forgotten what he wanted to say because he was awestruck, but he gets a pass. It was, after all, the president of the United States. Hornish and key members of Marlboro Team Penske and the IRL IndyCar Series met briefly Tuesday morning with President George W. Bush in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House to celebrate Hornish's victory in the 90th Indianapolis 500 in May. Bush entered the room and greeted the group by asking, "How's everybody doing?" He then shook hands with Hornish, who struggled to say what he'd rehearsed....

[snip} Her memoir charts her rise from go-kart champion at 10, three solitary teenage years competing in England, and dealing with Danica Mania at the Indy 500 last year, when at 23 she became the first woman to lead the race. (She finished fourth.) The book offers a driver's-seat perspective and details Patrick's gritty determination to deal with the sexism she has faced throughout her career. [snip] The tone of Patrick's book suggests it's aimed at young women, as it's sprinkled with dating advice ("If your boyfriend has another girlfriend, you are not his girlfriend") and self-esteem tips ("What makes...

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) - Robert Clarke, the president of Honda Performance Development, can't help but consider the irony of Honda's circuitous route to supplying every car in the starting field for the 90th Indianapolis 500. Clarke remembers that difficult initial experience in 1994, when Honda was new to IndyCar racing and arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Team Rahal. It was obvious from the start that the new engine company wasn't up to speed and Bobby Rahal was in danger of missing the race for the second year in a row. Rahal made the difficult decision to abandon the engine...

INDIANAPOLIS, May 28, 2006 – Today's opening ceremonies for the 90th Indianapolis 500 carried a special message for servicemembers and their families: America Supports You. Indy 500 fans hold America Supports You cards to let servicemembers attending the race know that the country is behind them. Several thousand cards were available for fans to display at the Indianapolis 500 on May 28. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Troops were greeted with thunderous applause and cheering when they rode around the two-and-a-half mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway track as part of the speedway's Military Recognition...

INDIANAPOLIS, May 28, 2006 – With the stands crowded for the 90th running of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing," five servicemembers stood atop the Victory Podium to sing the national anthem before the race today. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Lisa Taylor, Army Sgt. Jennifer Castle, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Landon Crissup, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Remayl L. Shaffer-Hardy, and Air Force Staff Sgt. E. Justin Allen talk with local reporters in Indianapolis before the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Air Force Staff Sgt. E. Justin...

I had the pleasure of attending the Indy 500 today. We have great seats located behind the pits and just shy of the start finish line. Because of our location we are able to see the pre race activities first hand. Of course attending the race are the usual Hollywood celebs. Jack Nicholson, Patrick Dempsey, a couple actors from Lost and Prison break, to name a few. They were introduced twice, once while they were standing around with their celeb peers and once when they were paraded in front of the crowd while riding in the back of convertables. I...

I'm not much for vanities, so please forgive me this one. Why isn't ABC showing the Indy 500 in Hi Def? Did they have technical difficulties, or did someone at ABC sports decide it wasn't important enough? I personally couldn't care less who wins Indy, my style of racing starts this afternoon at 5pm, but I thought it would be cool to watch Indy in Hi Def. After listening to the media pundits imply that Indy is so much more sophisticated than NASCAR, you would think they would spend the money to broadcast it at the highest level possible. Almost...

INDIANAPOLIS, May 28, 2006 – Before drivers start their engines today to run the 90th Indianapolis 500, another long-standing tradition had people on their feet yesterday. A banner for the Defense Department's America Supports You program is carried during the 49th annual Indy 500 Festival Parade, in Indianapolis. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The 49th annual Indy 500 Festival Parade paid tribute to Indiana's rich culture, as well as the nation's military. Marching through downtown Indianapolis, the parade offered colorful balloons and floats as well as opportunities for the crowd to show their...

INDIANAPOLIS, May 27, 2006 – About two dozen soldiers and Marines watched intently as Indy car pit crews changed tires and gassed up their cars during the fourth annual Checkers/Rally's Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge here yesterday. Soldiers and Marines participate in an Indy 500 tradition -- kissing the bricks -- though they added their own touch. At the bottom of a push up, they kissed the only remaining bricks from the original track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Before the competition began, the servicemembers were warmly welcomed...

Sam Hornish Jr. is on the provisional WorldPoints Visa Card Pole for the 90th Indianapolis 500 this afternoon after posting a four-lap average of 228.985 mph. His teammate, Helio Castroneves, is second at 228.008, with Dan Wheldon filling the front row at 227.338. Qualifying continues until 6 p.m. (ET), with 29 drivers already in the field. Saturday, May 20 The Run for the WorldPoints Visa Card Pole on Coca-Cola Throwback DayAdmission: $5.00 Public Gates Open 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. IndyCar Series Practice 9:30 - 11 a.m. Qualifications Noon - 6 p.m. Sunday, May 21 Bump Day/Armed Forces DayAdmission: $5.00...

Armstrong to drive Indy 500 pace car Indianapolis, April 4, 2006 -- Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong will pace the field this year at the 90th Indianapolis 500. Armstrong, who was treated for cancer in Indianapolis before becoming a champion cyclist, will drive the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette to start the race on May 28. "All I can say is that when we got the phone call to ask if I was interested in driving the Pace Car at Indy, it was a very short conversation," said Armstrong. "It was like: 'Are you kidding? Of course.' It is a...

Danica Patrick … yes, Danica Patrick … right here on our stage, Danica Patrick … oh, and have I mentioned Danica Patrick? Yes, it's the Danica Patrick 500 tomorrow on ESPN, and if there are other drivers, we'll be damned if we know who they are. And you know who we should feel for here in this potentially gruesome situation? I'll give you a hint. Her initials are Danica Patrick. The official name for Patrick's first race since Indianapolis is the Bombardier Learjet 500, which would be a cool name no matter who was driving. But given the supernova of...

Female racer draws a crowd at event By Mark Agee Star-Telegram Staff Writer ARLINGTON - The line for Danica Patrick's autograph was made up mostly of two groups -- young girls and single men -- who admire her for very different reasons. Fans began lining up before 8 a.m. for the 6 p.m. session, facing 10 hours in 93-degree heat in a bowling alley's parking lot for the chance to meet the 23-year-old Indy Racing League rookie driver. "It's not often you see a woman driver -- one this cute either," said Andrew Hayes-Stoker, 26, of Fort Worth, who was...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 31) - Robby Gordon was not being critical of Danica Patrick when he said she had an unfair weight advantage in the Indianapolis 500. Rather, he said he was simply discussing a flaw in the Indy Racing League's rules. "The only thing I was saying was that I have a problem with the rule, not any particular driver," Gordon said Tuesday. "I've been impressed with Danica from the first time she got in an IRL car earlier this year, and I certainly did not mean to disrespect her or any other driver." Patrick wowed the racing world...

Lesbian Basketball, Season 9 vs. the Indy Chick June 02, 2005 By Debbie Schlussel What’s the difference between the WNBA and Danica Patrick? For one thing, she looks like a woman, and they don’t. Then there’s Title IX—affirmative action for useless women’s sports no-one cares about, like water polo and crew (a/k/a “You Gotta Regatta Lesbiatta”). WNBA players had Title IX to succeed, but are in season nine of extreme failure. Danica Patrick—the rookiette race-car driver who came in forth at Sunday’s Indy 500—didn’t have Title IX. They don’t have it in racing. The IRL only has that amazing non-governmental...

Thanks To http://michaelsavage.com and http://spectator.org For The HeadsUp On This One. [I Hope I Don't Get Into The Trouble Rush Limbaugh Did When He Commented How The Media Falls In Love With Certain Genders And Ethnic Groups Just Because They Are Not Male WASPs] Although the male Indy drivers, and the press (which was spellbound over the 4th place finish for Danica Patrick) were too polite to mention it, Danica totalled two (COUNT THEM, TWO) Million Dollar+ Indy cars when she lost control of her vehicle. The two Indies belonged to the same team - Panther Racing - which had...

NEW YORK - Danica Patrick's first Indianapolis 500 made for great television. ABC's broadcast on Sunday drew a 6.6 overnight rating and a 17 share, up 40 percent from last year and the highest since 1997.Patrick, who became the first woman to hold the lead at the Indy 500, led several of the final laps before settling for fourth. The ratings during the last 15 minutes of the race spiked to 8.8/21. Dan Wheldon passed the 23-year-old rookie with seven laps to go and coasted to his first victory at the Brickyard. Last year's race, won by Patrick's Rahal-Letterman teammate...

INDIANAPOLIS - Dan Wheldon overcame an electrifying run by Danica Patrick and ended 35 years of fabled Andretti bad luck to win the Indianapolis 500 Sunday. Patrick started fourth, the highest-ever start for a woman, in the most famous race in American sports. She finished in that spot, the highest ever for a woman. The 23-year-old rookie, the highest-starting female driver in Indianapolis 500 history, became the first woman to lead the race when the three drivers ahead of her made their second pit stops before she did. She led with as few as 5 laps remaining, but Wheldon pulled...

I'm listening to the Indianapolis 500 via live webcast   http://www.wibc.com/indy500/broadcastschedule_indy500.aspx   and I just heard that Colin Powell drove the Pace Car. That's gotta be a first!   Sorry for the vanity, I'm just so thrilled to hear the race live (it's my home city!). I was attending school in Boston last year and it was postponed due to tornadoes in the area.   Sounds like Pactrick has as good a good chance at it as anybody!     The Horses Mouth  

Didn't see one started so I thought I'd kick it off! Looks like its gonna be a good race!

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (AP) -- In the gritty, testosterone-fueled world of car racing it's all Danica, all the time. At 23 Danica Patrick is not only the sole woman racing in Sunday's Indianapolis 500, she's the second-youngest driver on the circuit. Oh, and another thing: She's fast. Only the fourth woman to race in the big event in its 89-year history, Patrick outran every male driver in Friday's final practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "If she wins, it could mean so much" to the Indy Racing League, said Tony Kanaan, the polewinner and reigning league champion. "That's a lot of...

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Robby Gordon accused Danica Patrick of having an unfair advantage in the Indianapolis 500 and said Saturday he will not compete in the race again unless the field is equalized. Gordon, a former open-wheel driver now in NASCAR, contends that Patrick is at an advantage over the rest of the competitors because she only weighs 100 pounds. Because all the cars weigh the same, Patrick's is lighter on the race track. "The lighter the car, the faster it goes," Gordon said. "Do the math. Put her in the car at her weight, then put me or...

Robby Gordon accused Danica Patrick of having an unfair advantage in the Indianapolis 500 and said Saturday he will not compete in the race again unless the field is equalized. Gordon, a former open-wheel driver now in NASCAR, contends that Patrick is at an advantage over the rest of the competitors because she only weighs 100 pounds. Because all the cars weigh the same, Patrick's is lighter on the race track. "The lighter the car, the faster it goes," Gordon said. "Do the math. Put her in the car at her weight, then put me or Tony Stewart in the...

ABC Sports replaced veteran Indianapolis 500 announcer Paul Page, known as the Voice of the 500, with Todd Harris in an effort to boost buzz and ratings. The network described Harris, 39, as one of the "most respected young talents" in broadcasting. Page, a 28-year broadcast veteran, told his hometown Indianapolis Star he was "terribly disappointed" by ABC's move. "I love doing the Indy 500," said Page, 59, who will handle other sports duties for ABC and ESPN. "It's all I ever really wanted to do." It was the second time ABC pulled Page from the broadcast booth. Page joined...

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2005 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway was awash in patriotism May 22, just one week before 33 IndyCar drivers take to the oval in the annual Indianapolis 500 race. Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar administers the Oath of Enlistment to a group of 56 new recruits in the winner's circle at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 22. Photo by Samantha Quigley (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Armed Forces Day at the home of the "greatest spectacle in racing" included more than just military displays near the speedway museum. During an enlistment ceremony held in the winner's...

Colin Powell will drive the 2005 Chevy Corvette pace car for the Indy 500.

Gasoline Alley at the Indianapolis 500 will soon become Ethanol Alley: The Indy Racing League is switching from methanol to a new mixture relying on corn-derived ethanol. The league's IndyCar Series will start using ethanol next year, the league said Wednesday. It's a small market for ethanol, involving 160,000 gallons out of 3.5 billion produced each year. But it's a big symbolic gesture meant to counter perceptions that ethanol doesn't perform as well as gasoline or other fuels. "It's a performance fuel that's going to go around the track at 220 miles an hour," said Dave Vander Griend, president of...

[snip]This might be the last year [Robby Gordon or anyone for that matter] can attempt the Memorial Day weekend double. Officials at ABC have discussed the possibility of pushing the starting time of the Indy 500 back by a couple of hours to help with TV ratings. If that happens, the chance of anyone competing in both races is diminished. "It would mess it up, but it is what it is," Gordon said. "I think that would be a mistake on the IRL's side because then Tony Stewart or myself would never be able to come over and compete. "It...

Friday, May 23, 2003Crumbling Brickyard-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Jim Armstrong Special to Page 2 Gentlemen, start your apathy. And since, outside of Hootie Johnson's house, we're all one big, gender-equal, happy family, you can, too, ladies. Ignore the Indy 500, that is. There was a time not so long ago when Indy had more It than the Addams family tree. The Battle at the Brickyard was as ingrained in American culture as rock 'n' roll, backseat makeout sessions at the drive-in and church on Sunday. Memorial Day weekends were reserved for Indy, double-headers, SPF 8, and backyard burgers and brewskis. In the...

<p>Former President George H.W. Bush's office confirmed Friday that the 41st president will be in town to watch the Indianapolis 500 on May 25.</p> <p>He won't be the only former president at the Speedway on race day. President Bill Clinton's visit to the track was announced a few weeks ago.</p>