IndyCar Grand Prix Prerace Notes

Lots of hugs and handshakes from old friends here at IMS. Given the laid-back nature of the weekend, it's more like an SCCA National event than an IndyCar weekend. The unwelcome guest could very well be the weather, which feels like afternoon thunderstorms are a definite possibility.

Morning IndyCar practice was notable only because Marco Andrettin coughed an engine, and Ryan Hunter-Reay's motor lost power later on. Word that Lucile got was that it was a turbo failure, but Andretti team members told Tim that it was a "catastrophic smoke leak". Honda had no comment, but Tim did see the Andretti people giving the exhaust manifolds and turbos the careful look-over.

Colton Herta bumped his way into the lead in the closing laps of the second Indy Lights race, spinning out a blocking Santi Urrutia in the process.

— Tim Wohlford and Lucille Dust, reporting from IMS