Two departure times provide more flexibility for fans who want to commute to the track on their bike on Race Day. Read More>
This partnership represents the first time a major athlete's sponsorship has been decided by a vote using blockchain technology. Read More>
e.l.f. is believed to be the first beauty brand to serve as a primary sponsor for an entry in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” as Legge will drive the No. 51 e.l.f. Honda on Sunday, May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Read More>
View images from the shortened first day of the Indianapolis 500 Open test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. View Photos>
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Why does Scott McLaughlin move his hands around so much in the car? What "button" is he pushing? What's the pressure of the iconic Yellow Submarine like? We cover that and so much more with Scott McLaughlin on the latest Doug and Drivers. Watch Video>
On this episode of Behind the Bricks, IMS President Doug Boles truly goes behind the bricks of the IMS Museum and checks in on the renovation progress. He also gets an exclusive look at the vision of the refreshed Museum, which opens a year from this week. The Museum is a separate entity from IMS and is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Consider supporting the Museum by visiting imsmuseum.org Watch Video>
On this episode of Doug and Drivers, 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi talks his chances to win "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" again, adjusting to Arrow McLaren, getting married over the offseason and so much more. Watch Video>
October 13, 2017 | By Paul Kelly, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Australian Matt Hall led a tight field of the world’s best aerobatic pilots Friday after two Master Class practice sessions for the Red Bull Air Race World Championship race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Florian Berger of Germany dominated practice in the Challenger Class, the last training ground before the premier Master Class. Fourteen Master Class and six Challenger Class pilots are flying this weekend on a course above the IMS oval infield. Planes race against the clock at low altitude while exceeding 200 mph, navigating a low-level slalom track marked by 82-foot-high, air-filled pylons called Air Gates. Each timed run is 2.5 laps after a standing start, navigating a total of 19 Air Gates. Pilots turn as quickly and efficiently as possible, pulling up to 10 G’s in some turns before flying toward the next gate. Penalties are assessed for hitting the Air Gates, for speed and altitude violations or for not flying in the proper formation through certain Air Gates. The quickest pilot against the clock in each round wins. Hall built on the momentum produced from a season-best second-place finish at the last event, Sept. 17 at Lausitz, Germany. He flew to the top time today at IMS at 1 minute, 4.055 seconds. Reigning World Champion Matthias Dolderer of Germany, who won the inaugural event at IMS last October, was second at 1:04.173 with his run that led the opening practice. Master Class championship leader Martin Sonka of the Czech Republic was third overall at 1:04.354. Nicolas Ivanoff of France was fourth at 1:04.854, while Canadian Pete McLeod was fifth at 1:04.880. Just eight-tenths of a second separated the top five pilots. Sonka leads Japanese pilot Yoshihide Muroya by four points, 63-59, entering the season finale at IMS. McLeod is third in the standings with 56 points. American Kirby Chambliss is the only other pilot mathematically eligible to win the World Championship, fourth with 52 points. It was a tough day over sunny skies at IMS for the other two championship contenders besides Sonka and McLeod. Muroya was 10th overall at 1:05.913, but that final time included a two-second penalty for incorrect passing of an Air Gate and incorrect level flying. So Muroya would have been the leader and the only pilot in the 1:03 range with a clean run. Texas native Chambliss, who lives in Tucson, Arizona, was 11th overall at 1:06.543. American Michael Goulian, from Plymouth, Massachusetts, ended up eighth at 1:05.601. In the Challenger Class, championship leader Berger ruled both practice sessions. His best overall time of 1:15.073 came in the second practice. Berger showed tremendous consistency throughout the day, leading the first practice at 1:15.109. Berger leads Swedish pilot Daniel Ryfa, 36-34, in the race for the Challenger Cup awarded to the season champion. American Kevin Coleman, from Coushatta, Louisiana, was second quickest at 1:17.726, nearly 2.7 seconds behind Berger. Ryfa was third quickest overall at 1:18.178, his best run from the first practice. Aerial activity Saturday at IMS starts at 10:45 a.m. with the final practice for the Challenger Class, followed by the last practice for the Master Class at 1:20 p.m. Challenger Class qualifying is set for 3:05 p.m., followed by Master Class qualifying at 4:05 p.m. Visit IMS.com to purchase tickets for the Red Bull Air Race World Championship and for more information on the event weekend. Children 15 and under receive free General Admission when accompanied by an adult General Admission ticket holder. An interactive Fan Guide for the event also is available at www.ims.com/RBARFanGuide.