2020 Indianapolis 500
The 2020 Indianapolis 500 is an IndyCar Series event scheduled for Sunday, August 23, 2020, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. The Indianapolis 500 is the premier event of the 2020 IndyCar Series. The race is scheduled for 500 miles. Simon Pagenaud of Team Penske is the defending race winner and defending pole position winner.
Originally scheduled for May 24, the race was postponed to August due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 running will be the first time the race is not held in the month of May, and the first time not held on or around Memorial Day.
Practice is scheduled for August 11–14 and time trials are scheduled for August 15–16. Carb Day, the traditional final day of practice, along with the Pit Stop Challenge, are scheduled for August 21.
Race background
Sponsorship
On January 31, 2019, it was announced that the online financial services company Gainbridge would become the new presenting sponsor of the 500 under a four-year deal. This will be the second year under the current deal.Safety changes
On May 24, 2019, it was announced that IndyCar Series would introduce cockpit protection combining an aeroscreen and Halo from 2020 season onward. The cockpit protection will be built by Red Bull Advanced Technologies. The combination of aeroscreen and halo is designed to improve safety standards by deflecting debris away from a driver's head and was originally developed for use in Formula One and IndyCar before its application was expanded to other open-wheel championships. During the first two races of the season, drivers experienced stifling heat in the cockpits, caused by the now limited airflow. A supplemental air duct was added to the aeroscreen beginning at Iowa to help cool the cockpits.On June 17, 2020, the aeroscreen had its first major test test at Iowa Speedway during the 2020 Iowa IndyCar 250s when during an aported restart on lap 157, Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay appeared to slow behind eventual race winner Simon Pagenaud and move to the right, and behind the Dutch rookie, Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Racing’s Colton Herta was caught in an accordion affect, launching the No. 88 Honda over the left-rear tire of VeeKay’s No. 21 Chevy. Prior to getting significantly airborne, Herta’s unimpeded nose – minus its wings – attempted to spear into the left side of VeeKay’s cockpit, level with his helmet. With the aeroscreen acting as a vertical barrier, Herta’s nose was forced upward, sliding skyward on the screen before hitting the top of the aerscreen frame and flying over VeeKay’s Dallara DW12 chassis. This saved Veekay from apparent serious injury.
Ownership changes
On November 3, 2019, it was announced that Penske Entertainment Corp., a subsidiary of the Penske Corporation, owned by Roger Penske, had purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the IndyCar Series, and IMS Productions. Penske, owner of Team Penske will step down as full time-race strategist and focus on the new ownership roles. The sale was finalized in January 2020.Shortly after acquiring the property, Penske swiftly began upgrading and beautifying several areas at the track, particularly in the spectator areas. A refurbishment of the restrooms and concession stands, as well as widening and re-paving/paving walkways behind the grandstands along with new fencing was completed in the spring. Thirty new video boards were installed along the mainstretch grandstands, along with a new 104-foot video screen on the back of the Pagoda in the Pagoda Plaza. Other improvements included power washing, painting, improved internet service, general repairs, landscaping, hardscaping, and new lighting at the main gate. The victory lane podium was refurbished to include a new platform hoist to lift the winning car to the top.
Qualifying changes
- The Last Row Shootout will be expanded to a 75-minute session in order to allow multiple qualifying attempts for each participant. In the previous year participants in the shootout were permitted only one attempt.
- For practice on Fast Friday and during time trials, turbocharger boost settings will be increased to allow an additional 45 horsepower. Engines will be permitted 150 kPa of turbocharger "boost". Engines are allowed 130 kPa of "boost" on race day and during all other practice sessions.
Rule changes
- Teams will be permitted seven crew members over-the-wall servicing the car during pit stops. This is up from six utilized from 1988 to 2019. The sole purpose of the seventh member is to clean or remove tear-offs from the new aeroscreen. Teams will be allowed four tire changers, one fueler, one pnuematic jack operator, and one aeroscreen attendant. The aeroscreen attendant is not permitted to service any other part of the car. After cockpit cooling issues during the first two races of the season, the aeroscreen attendant was also given the permission to provide the driver with a drink bottle.
- Grid penalties for unapproved engine changes have been reinstated for the 2020 season. However, no penalties will be served at the Indianapolis 500. Penalties from the previous race, or penalties incurred at the 500 will be enforced at Gateway.
Schedule
On March 26, the series announced the rescheduling of the 2020 Indianapolis 500 to August 23. The GMR Grand Prix was rescheduled for and held July 4, as part of the NASCAR Brickyard 400 weekend, and a matinee doubleheader with the Xfinity Series Pennzoil 150. On May 31, it was announced that the 2020 Indy Lights season had been cancelled, and therefore the Freedom 100, traditionally run on Carb Day, would not be held.
The first two IndyCar events were held mostly behind closed doors. Roger Penske stated on June 8 that "we are going to run it with fans", and that the race could be delayed further if they are unable to admit spectators. On June 26, it was initially announced that spectators would be admitted for the Indianapolis 500 at half capacity, including restricting grandstands, and not holding the Snake Pit concert party.
On July 20, Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles stated that the IndyCar Series was continuing to work with local health officials, and that "unless the COVID-19 world crashes in on us and healthcare metrics really turn south meaningfully, I'm quite confident we'll be able to do the race." On July 21, the Speedway announced the attendance cap for the race would be reduced to a quarter of its total capacity, and that attendees would be required to wear face coverings.
Source: FestivitiesOn March 18, it was announced that the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon scheduled for May 2 would not be held. On July 22, Legends Day and the 500 Festival Parade downtown were cancelled. The annual Last Row Party was cancelled, as well as the annual Old Timers Banquet and Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The 2020 Hall of Fame class will be inducted alongside the 2021 class.Start timeCiting summer heat, the Speedway announced the start time would be moved back one hour and forty-five minutes from 12:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., the latest scheduled start time of the Indianapolis 500. For many years after World War II, the race had traditionally been scheduled to start at 11 a.m. local time, which was typically equivalent to 12 p.m. EDT. After exceptions in 1970, and from 2005 to 2010, the race went back to a 12 p.m. EDT start time since 2011, but switched to 12:45 p.m. in 2019 under NBC's television contract.With the final round coverage of The Women's Open Championship at Royal Troon scheduled for August 23 to air on NBC, the later start time allows The Open to finish without interfering with television coverage of the Indy 500. On July 8, NASCAR announced the remainder of its schedule through the end of August, which included a 200-mile Xfinity Series and 500-kilometer Cup Series doubleheader at Dover the same day as the Indy 500. The races are part of a twin race weekend for both series where both series raced the respective distances. The races will air against the Indy 500 in part on NBCSN. Original scheduleThe original schedule for the 2020 Indianapolis 500 was released in early 2020.
Entry listThe following is a list of entries currently tabulated for the Indianapolis 500. All entries will use the Dallara IR12 chassis, with Firestone tires.As the defending Indy Lights champion, Oliver Askew is guaranteed an entry as part of the Road to Indy scholarship program. He signed with Arrow McLaren SP. Two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso confirmed that he will return for his third Indianapolis 500 attempt. Juncos Racing plans to enter if their car is prepared in enough time, but Byrd Racing announced they will skip the 2020 race due to financial issues.
Aeroscreen test – October 2019The series conducted an official evaluation test on October 2, 2019, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Two teams tested the new aeroscreen developed by Red Bull Advanced Technologies. The cockpit safety device is scheduled to be implemented for the 2020 season. Scott Dixon and Will Power collectively drove more than 600 miles' worth of laps, and the test yielded mostly positive results.
Oval rookie test — February 14Four IndyCar rookies took part in an oval acclimation test at Texas Motor Speedway on February 14. Oliver Askew, Álex Palou, Rinus VeeKay, and Scott McLaughlin took part in the test, which was conducted by IndyCar officials. The test provided the drivers with high-speed oval experience prior to the start of the Rookie Orientation Program. Veterans Josef Newgarden and Ed Carpenter also took laps, doing further evaluations of the new aeroscreens. Cold temperatures delayed the start of the test, but a total of five hours of track time was available. No incidents were reported.Open testA full field open test was scheduled for Thursday, April 30. However, the test was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the Indianapolis 500 was later rescheduled for August 23, series officials did not initially announce if an open test would be made available before practice begins on August 12. The original date of the race would have made it the first oval track event of the 2020 season. With the rescheduled date, the race would now be the fourth of six oval races, as well as the second superspeedway race. Since drivers will have raced at Texas prior to arriving at Indy, the need for an oval acclimation test and rookie orientation may be modified for drivers whom INDYCAR would have noted were proficient during the Texas race. This is the first time since 2010 that there will be a superspeedway race held prior to the Indianapolis 500.Rookie Orientation / Refresher tests — Tuesday August 11
Opening day Practice — Tuesday August 11
TelevisionThe race is scheduled to be televised on NBC in the United States; also, for the first time since 2016, the race will not be blacked out in the Indianapolis area as ticket sales ended four weeks prior to the race, and under regulations of the Speedway and Marion County Public Health Department's orders regarding capacity limits for events. On the original date of the race, NBC aired an encore of the 2019 edition of the race, Back Home Again, with Mike Tirico joined by Simon Pagenaud and Alexander Rossi.RadioThe race is scheduled to be carried by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network. |
Hélio Castroneves 
Patricio O'Ward 
Marcus Ericsson
Rinus VeeKay 
Simon Pagenaud 
Takuma Sato 
Max Chilton
Jack Harvey
Dalton Kellett 
Scott Dixon