INDIANAPOLIS — The crowds came to Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, but not even the will of a mob estimated at more than 75,000 could keep away the rain from washing out Carb Day for the 92nd Indianapolis 500.
After about 12 minutes of practice on Friday morning, it began to rain.
First, the McDonald’s Pit Stop Challenge was cut from the schedule as IMS officials hoped to resume practice if the track could be dried.
Then, IndyCar officials canceled the remainder of practice with hopes of having enough time to stage the Firestone Freedom 100 Firestone Indy Lights Series race.
But when it began to rain at 4:10 p.m., the race was postponed until Saturday. At least the fans were rewarded with the scheduled concert, including the Stone Temple Pilots as the headline act.
“We had 11 minutes of activity and 32 of the 33 cars at least did an installation check,” IRL President of Competition Brian Barnhart said. “Several drivers got 11 laps in and ran over 215 or 216 miles per hour in. I don’t think we had a lot of teams that were going to run a lot of laps any way. The forecast for Sunday has temperatures in the 80s and I don’t think teams were going to waste a lot of time putting in miles under conditions that weren’t there today.”
Barnhart said with 30,000 miles run in practice this month that the teams would be in pretty good shape for Sunday’s Indy 500.
With 32 cars on the track in the very brief session, only 189 laps were run in the final practice session.
Dan Wheldon was the fastest when he ran a lap at 223.934 miles per hour. He ran just six laps. Pole winner Scott Dixon was second at 223.028 mph as the fastest of his six laps. Vitor Meira ran 10 laps and was third quick at 222.326 mph.
Friday’s practice session could have been helpful for the newer drivers that will compete in the race that came over the former Champ Car Series.
“I only had a few laps out there and the car felt good, but unfortunately I couldn’t really get into traffic and practice under those conditions because the rain came, but it affects everybody,” said Enrique Bernoldi. “It was not ideal, but the car felt OK and we have to take it from there.
“I’m quite positive for the race. Let’s hope that Sunday will be good as well.”