NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 5
PREVIEW GMR Grand Prix (USA)
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is ramping up Month of May activities at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend as the GMR Grand Prix soars into play, with Felix Rosenqvist looking to build on two previous pole positions at the IMS road course.
Rosenqvist has displayed serious pace around the 2.4-mile, 14-turn IMS infield layout – which also incorporates parts of the famous Indy 500 oval – in the past, consistently hitting the top of the timesheets.
The track was the site of Rosenqvist’s first-ever INDYCAR pole position back in 2019, and the Swede then repeated the performance in 2022 – snatching the NTT P1 Award by nearly three tenths in last July’s Gallagher Grand Prix.
As the field returns this weekend for the GMR Grand Prix – the last race before the ensuing Indy 500 extravaganza – Rosenqvist is looking for more than just a qualifying repeat aboard his Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
“The IMS road course has been very good to me in qualifying, but not quite so kind in the races,” says Felix Rosenqvist. “That’s the focus this year, I think for the entire team. We had fantastic pace in this race last year, in the wet, and I really believe we could have had a 1-2 there. Unfortunately it became all too chaotic in the end, so I still haven’t been on the podium here and I do want to change that.”
Rosenqvist arrives in Indianapolis on the back of a strong recovery drive last time out at Barber Motorsports Park, where he battled through from last to ninth after overcoming first-lap contact.
“The pace was strong again at Barber, so it’s just a question of piecing everything together and getting ourselves a clean race,” Rosenqvist concludes. “It would mean a lot to kick off May with a strong showing this weekend.”
The GMR Grand Prix is run over 85 laps, and features a deviating two-day format with practice and qualifying on Friday and the race then taking place on Saturday.
Much like last year, the weather forecast again predicts unstable conditions and a risk of rain throughout the event.
TIME TABLE
All times local (U.S. Eastern)
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 5
GMR Grand Prix
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (USA)
Friday 12 May
Free Practice 1: 9:30-10:45 am
Free Practice 2: 1:00-2:00 pm
Qualifying: 4:00-5:15 pm
Saturday 13 May
Warm-up: 11:15-11:45 am
Race (85 laps): 3:30 pm
TIMING: INDYCAR App / racecontrol.indycar.com
ENTRY LIST: view here
TRACK DATA: view here
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: view here