Friday morning update from Road America

Can George Bruggenthies deliver another big crowd in 2017?

It is a picture perfect morning here at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The weather looks like we will have sunshine all weekend and temperatures in the 70s today. I will take that after the heat of Texas!

This will be the 27th IndyCar race at Road America since the first event in 1982. All eyes will be on the expected crowd this year after last year's well attended return to the 4 mile, 14 turn road course. It is early morning here so not too many people walking around yet. And the track has never released their attendance numbers.

Esteban Gutierrez is back in the Dale Coyne Racing #18 entry, replacing the recuperating Sebastien Bourdais. "I'm very happy to finally announce my racing program for the rest of the season," expressed Gutierrez. "To represent Mexico in the Verizon IndyCar Series has a huge significance to all the fans that have been following the series through history and I'm very grateful to fill in this position.

"IndyCar has highly competitive teams and drivers and the challenge for me will be great, but I will use all my experience from Formula 1 with Sauber, HAAS F1 Team and Ferrari in order to adapt quickly to the car and the tracks. I look forward to continue working with Dale Coyne Racing and Honda, I put my trust in them to achieve great results together. I cannot wait to jump in my Unifin #18 car at Road America this weekend!"

Another driver change will be Canadian Robert Wickens driving the #7 Schmidt Peterson entry, filling in for a missing Mikhail Aleshin. Aleshin has experienced immigration issues trying to leave France after competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans last weekend. Wickens will participate in Friday's practice sessions at the KOHLER Grand Prix. Aleshin, the first Russian driver to race Indy cars, is working to resolve his visa issues in time to compete in the remainder of weekend activities at Road America, including Sunday's 55-lap race.

IndyCar practice is at 10:45 am for 45 minutes.

Stay tuned for more updates as the weekend unfolds.

Lucille Dust reporting live from Road America.