IndyCar: Gallagher Grand Prix Preview

After taking to the street of Nashville just one week ago, the NTT IndyCar Series comes back home to Indianapolis for the Gallagher Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

A shortened IndyCar race weekend gets started on with first practice Friday, August 11th. In contrast to other weekends IndyCar qualifying happens in the afternoon on Friday. Therefor it’s important to have the car and setup ready out of the truck. The action on Friday is concluded by final practice. Green flag for the IndyCar Gallagher Grand Prix flies at 2PM on Saturday, August 12th.

For the 15th time, drivers will be tested to the max on this 2.4 mile, 14 turn road course on the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway and infield. Keep in mind, Chip Ganassi Racing driver and current points’ leader Alex Palou will be looking for the sweep on the IMS road course this year with his win back in May. Palou extended his IndyCar championship lead over Josef Newgarden in Nashville, now leading by 84 points.

IndyCar Race Facts

The race distance for the Gallagher Grand Prix is 85 laps/207 miles. In the previous 9 races, there have been 8 different drivers who have won this race.

With IMS being considered their “home” track, Team Penske has dominated the IMS road course with 8 wins along with 14 podiums, BUT over the last 2 years Penske hasn’t seen the same success with just 1 win over that span.

As far as tires go for this weekend, teams will be given five sets of black primaries, four sets of red alternates and five sets of gray (rain) tires will be used during the event weekend. Teams must use one set of primary and one set of new (sticker) alternate.

Qualifying is key on this road course. Out of the last 14 races on this layout, 13 were won by a driver who started at least within the top 8. The only driver outside the top 8 to win was Colton Herta in May 2022 when he started P14.

At-track schedule (all times local)

• Friday, Aug. 11 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Practice 1
• Friday, Aug 11 12:30 PM Qualifications
• Friday, Aug 11 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM Final Practice
• Saturday, Aug 12 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Race

  Keep Your Eye On

  Alex Palou
  What a season this driver has had. 4 wins along with 8 podiums. By the way, did I mention he’s going for a sweep at the IMS road course?

  
  Don’t Sleep On

  Colton Herta
  Even though he hasn’t produced any wins this year on a street or road course, he has been awfully impressive and oh by the way, he won last year’s road course in May.

  Stay Away

  Josef Newgarden
  Outside of winning the Indianapolis 500, Newgarden is nowhere to be found on the road course. 1 podium in 13 IMS road course starts.