While American Sage Karam winning the pole for the Indy Lights Freedom 100 was a cool story on Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it was the continued speed shown by Carlos Munoz that has many in the sport looking at a potential sweep for both Friday’s and Sunday’s races from the 21-year-old Columbian.
2013 Indianapolis 500: Rookie Carlos Munoz looking for Indianapolis sweep
Carlos Munoz will race in both the Indianapolis 500 and Indy Lights Freedom 100 this weekend for Andretti Autosport. He is looking to become the first driver to win both events -- and in the same weekend no less.
Jamie Squire
Munoz is the first driver to qualify on the front row for the Indianapolis 500 and Firestone Freedom 100 in the same year. He qualified second for both races in Andretti Autosport entries. Now he looks to become the first driver to not only win both races (Ed Carpenter also has this opportunity on Sunday) but do so in the same season.
“It would be great,” Munoz said of his chances after qualifying. “Here in Indy Lights, the qualifying is not as important as the tow in the race. Here (at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway) the race is really amusing. We had so much fun last year in that race because we were overtaking all the time.
“But I am going one by one. I am focusing first with Indy Lights -- then I will focus on the Indy 500.”
While the cars are marginally different, Munoz actually believes his experience in Friday afternoon’s Lights race will benefit him going into Sunday.
In an interview with SB Nation on Wednesday morning, Munoz called the current Lights car a “good school” for developing IndyCar drivers and said the Series shouldn’t move too far away from the current model when looking to replace the aging Lights Dallara in 2015.
“A lot of things carry over pretty well actually,” Munoz said. “The cars handle similar in traffic and seat time at the Speedway is always valuable. The only thing I would really suggest about the new car is a steering wheel that matches the Indy car Dallara just for (familiarity’s sake.)
Winning the Indianapolis 500 and the Indy Lights Freedom 100 would be the equivalent of hitting for the cycle in baseball. Winning the Lights 100 would be similar to hitting a single. Sunday will be the double, triple and home run. How close will Munoz come?
Tell us in the comments section below.
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