Rain alters Indy 500 schedule
Next weekend’s busy schedule just got tougher for some Indianapolis 500 teams.
The second day of qualifying at the 2.5-mile oval was rained out Sunday, marking the third time in the opening week that drivers lost a full day of track activity. And it might not get any better.
More rain is expected for Wednesday’s practice and the long-range forecast is calling for a chance of more rain late next week. But track officials are still hoping to fill the remaining 22 spots in the 33-car field Saturday.
If it does remain dry, Sunday would still be the traditional “Bump Day,” when non-qualified drivers can make the starting grid by knocking out the slowest qualifiers.
The original schedule called for 11 spots to be filled each of the first three days of qualifying. The opening day of time trials on Saturday was dry and successful. Then the rain returned.
“I think it’s a shame because it certainly alters everyone’s plans for the week,” Indy Racing League president Brian Barnhart said. “It’s been a bit of a challenge losing Wednesday, Thursday, a half day Friday, and now Sunday.”
Speedway president Joie Chitwood said the previous weather issues made Sunday’s decision difficult even though the cancellation was announced shortly after noon and earlier than is usually the case at Indy.
Formula One
Felipe Massa of Ferrari has won his third straight Turkish Grand Prix.
Massa finished ahead of McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen in the 58-lap Formula One race at Istanbul Speed Park.
Robert Kubica of BMW Sauber was fourth, ahead of teammate Nick Heidfeld.
Heikki Kovalainen of McLaren finished 12th after starting from second on the grid.
Raikkonen, the defending F1 champion, leads the standings with 35 points, seven ahead of Hamilton and Massa. Kubica is next with 24.