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Schedule

Sunday, May 7th - Opening Day
Saturday, May 13th - Pole Day (First day of Qualifying)
Sunday, May 14th - Qualifying Day 2
Saturday, May 20th - Qualifying Day 3
Sunday, May 21st - Bump Day
Wednesday, May 24th - Community Day
Thursday, May 25th - Freedom 100 (Practice & Qualifying)
Friday, May 26th - Carb Day
- 500 practice
- Freedom 100
- Pit Stop Challenge
- Carb Day Concert
Saturday, May 26th - Parade
Sunday, May 27th - 90th Indianapolis 500 (1pm local time)

Good luck to the defending Champion of the Indianapolis 500

Dan Wheldon

Announced earlier this year:

Michael Andretti will be coming out of retirement in this years 500 mile race to race along side his 19 year old son Marco.

What happened 5 years ago?

Memorial Day Weekend 2001

One safe prediction for the weather in Indianapolis for May in recent years is that it will be sunny and warm for the first two weeks of the months and cold and rainy for Memorial Day weekend. This year had three wonderful weeks of hot and sunny days with the weather turning cold the week before the Race. The weathermen tried very hard not to use the word "rain",. Instead, they showed a picture of the States with every other part of the states in red labeled "hot and sunny", Indiana was circled in blue and labeled "cold and wet".

The Race crowd stated arriving on Thursday. Friday, several thunderstorms pulled through. It made the golfers very nervous; after all how many people want to be walking around a big green golf course holding a lightening rod in their hands. The golfers, after having stopped several time for rain, finally called it quits after 16 holes. It was well into the evening before they were able to "shake the cold" off. The "girls" had a wonderful day at the spa. One good thing about having so many storms moving around the city was that there were many beautiful rainbows through out Indianapolis.

Between go-cart racing and watching the Indianapolis 500 Parade, Saturday was full even before the hamburger cookout started in the evening. With it being Memorial Day weekend (as usual) and the Police and Fire Games coming to Indianapolis this summer, this year's Parade had a very patriotic theme. The go-cart racers had a wonderful time. Congratulations goes out to the first, second, and third place finishers: Alex Blackburn, his father Logan, and Everett Houser.

With the weather forecasters calling for 60 degrees and a 50% chance of rain on Sunday, most people came prepared for a very cold and wet day. Luckily, it wasn't THAT cold and wet. Actually when it the race was halted for rain, it appeared that only part of the track was getting rain. It only lasted for a few minutes before the sun started peeking through the clouds. That's all it every did, peek, but it was enough to get the track crew out to dry the racetrack. It was a good race with several lead changes with a few exciting moments, especially in the first 20 laps. Other than that short rain storm, it was a decent day and we were able to get home with plenty of time to relax and play touch football before heading to the Post Race Cookout and Party.

Congratulations to the CART driver and Indianapolis Rookie Helio Castroneves on his win at the Indianapolis 500.

We keep hoping that the weather with "go back to normal" for Race Weekend. Basically, we want the weather to switch -- the first part of the month should be colder and wetter with the Race weekend being warm and mostly sunny. Not too sunny, the race tires get too warm and have a tendency to get too sticky. So, the weather has to be just nice enough that the cars can get qualified but not so sunny and warm on Race Day that the engines and tires overheat. Is that too much to ask for?

A short recap from 6 years ago.

Memorial Day Weekend 2000

The 2000 Indianapolis 500 Race was delayed three hours and 10 minutes for rain and had a rookie CART driver dominate and win it.

Congratulations to Juan Montoya.

With all the rain delays, we didn't get home from the Race until nearly 8 pm. Then, the grills needed starting, a tent was put up, and the food was cooked. By 9 pm, or so, the food was ready . Naturally, the non-Race attending party guests got a bit hungry. Those that attended the Race had barely enough time to go home, take two breaths while changing clothes, and leave for the party before dinner was served.

Hopefully the weather will be better next year.

For a list of the IRL drivers go to indycar.com/drivers

For all sort of statistics on the Indy 500 go to indy500.com/stats