Crews Feeling Need For Speed, Big Prize In IZOD Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge
May 26, 2011 | By Paul Kelly
The fastest pit crews in the Indianapolis 500 will compete for a $50,000 first prize in the IZOD Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge during Miller Lite Carb Day on Friday, May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Competition among 12 teams starts at 1:30 p.m. on pit lane at IMS. Four rounds of action are scheduled, with the runner-up team earning $30,000 and the third-place team earning $20,000.
Teams will change four tires and perform a simulated fuel hookup during each round of the competition. The quickest time wins, with time penalties added for various infractions, such as loose wheel nuts or running over air hoses.
Nine teams previously qualified based on pit performance between the 2010 Indianapolis 500 and the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle earlier this month. Three teams earned the final spots during time trials last week at IMS.
VERSUS will televise the IZOD Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge live as part of its Miller Lite Carb Day coverage from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Team Penske and Helio Castroneves are the two-time defending champions of the IZOD Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge. Team Penske has won a record 12 times and Castroneves five times, also a record.
Challenge brackets:
FIRST ROUND
#3 Team Penske (Helio Castroneves) vs. #28 Andretti Autosport* (Ryan Hunter-Reay)
#19 Dale Coyne Racing (Alex Lloyd) vs. #06 Newman/Haas Racing (James Hinchcliffe)
#82 KV Racing Technology-Lotus (Tony Kanaan) vs. #26 Andretti Autosport (Marco Andretti)
#5 KV Racing Technology-Lotus (Takuma Sato) vs. #22 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (Justin Wilson)
QUARTERFINALS
#3-#28 Winner vs. #12 Team Penske (Will Power)
#19-#06 Winner vs. #10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing (Dario Franchitti)
#82-#26 Winner vs. #9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing (Scott Dixon)
#5-#22 Winner vs. #6 Team Penske (Ryan Briscoe)
***
2011 Indianapolis 500 tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500, “The Most Important Race in History,” on Sunday, May 29, 2011 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Race Day ticket prices start at just $30. Fans can buy tickets online at www.imstix.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or by visiting the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
Children 12 and under will be receive free general admission to any IMS event in 2011 when accompanied by an adult general admission ticket holder.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.