The Indianapolis 500 lineup is set after Sunday’s qualifying. Next Sunday, Scott Dixon will be in pole position for the 99th edition of the Indy 500 at the Brickyard.
Indy 500 schedule 2015: Start times for all of race week’s festivities
Indianapolis is abuzz for the 99th running of the Indy 500 after a wild week of crashes and nasty weather made a boondoggle out of qualifying.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Before the green flag drops at roughly 12:15 p.m. ET, Indianapolis Motor Speedway will play host to a number of festivities -- concerts, parades and vintage car races are planned around practice sessions for the drivers. The Indy 500 has been known to be a good time for many who attend.
Then there’s the race, which should be riveting if the events of the last week are any indication. The days leading up to Dixon’s qualifying win were marred by three separate crashes on the IMS track. The third took place Sunday morning, when last year’s pole sitter Ed Carpenter went airborne after losing control of his car and hitting the outside wall of Turn 2 during a warmup session.
Dixon will be going for his second career Indy 500 victory. His first was in 2008, which was also his only other win in qualifying. He will have to fend off four other former Indy 500 winners lingering in the field. Two of them will be starting in Row 2 just behind Dixon. Tony Kanaan (2013 winner) finished fourth in qualifying, while Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002 and 2009) finished fifth.
The schedule below features some of the highlights of the coming week, including times of driver practice sessions, starts for the Indy Lights Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500, and a full rundown of race day’s pomp and circumstance. The official website of Indianapolis Motor Speedway includes events for fans who are going to be in Indianapolis and near the speedway during the week.
Schedule of events (all times Eastern)
Monday, May 18
12:30-4 p.m.: Verizon IndyCar Series practice
4:30-7 p.m.: Indy Lights test session
Wednesday, May 20
9 a.m.-noon: Pit stop practice -- Gasoline Alley
Thursday, May 21
9 a.m.-noon: Indy Lights Practice
1:15-2:15 p.m.: Indy Lights Qualifying
Friday, May 22
11 a.m.-noon: Verizon IndyCar Series Practice
12:07 p.m.: Indy Lights Driver Introductions
12:30 p.m.: Indy Lights Freedom 100 (40 Laps)
Saturday, May 23
10:30-11 a.m.: - Public drivers meeting -- Tower Terrace
Noon-1:30 p.m.: IPL 500 Festival parade - downtown Indianapolis
Sunday, May 24
8-9:15 a.m.: - Parade of Bands
9:30 a.m.: Celebrity Red Carpet -- Plaza
9:45 a.m.: 500 Festival Princess Laps
10:15 a.m.: “On The Banks of the Wabash” -- Purdue University Band
10:38 a.m.: Green flag delivery
10:40 a.m.: Former Indianapolis 500 winner laps
10:50 a.m.: Vintage race car laps
11:10 a.m.: Military laps
11:37 a.m.: Driver introductions
11:48 a.m.: “America The Beautiful”
11:50 a.m.: Military speech
11:52 a.m.: “God Bless America” -- Florence Henderson
11:55 a.m.: Invocation
11:59 a.m.: National anthem
12:10 p.m.: “Back Home Again in Indiana” -- Straight No Chaser
12:15 p.m.: 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race
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