By: Spencer Neff
May 12,2023

This weekend, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will run on the road course at the prestigious Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 14th time. Saturday’s running of the GMR Grand Prix marks 10 years that the 2.438-mile, 14-turn road course in Speedway, Indiana has played host to this event prior to the Indianapolis 500.

Before the on-track action begins, here’s a look at what to keep an eye on.

Headlines

After his first win of 2023 at Barber Motorsports Park during the series’ last round on April 30, Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin looks to add his name to an extensive list of drivers who have won for Car Owner Roger Penske at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Mclaughlin’s previous best finish on the IMS Road Course was fourth during last August’s race. In his May 2021 debut, the Christchurch, New Zealand native started fifth, his first career appearance in the Fast Six.

Barber saw Romain Grosjean of Andretti Autosport win the pole and lead 57 of 90 laps but finish second. Grosjean now has five second-place efforts in his career but is still in search of his first win. Now, he returns to the site of his first podium and pole in the series, when he finished second to Rinus VeeKay in May of 2021.

Grosjean’s teammate Colton Herta will look to repeat after a dominant performance in the rain-soaked 2022 edition of this race. Alexander Rossi won the July race at the speedway, giving Andretti Autosport their first wins on the road course.

Rossi, now with Arrow McLaren, could become the first driver since 2019 (Simon Pagenaud) to win consecutive races at IMS. In two of the last three events on the Road Course, Rossi’s current teammates Pato O”Ward and Felix Rosenqvist have started on the pole.

GMR Grand Prix Fast Facts

Spotter Guide Pit Assignments

Race weekend: Friday, May 12 – Saturday, May 13

Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course (clockwise)

Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES 85 laps / 207.3 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: 35laps/55 minute

Push-to-pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 200 seconds of total time, with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation. | INDY NXT by Firestone: 150 seconds of total time with amaximum time of 15 seconds per activation

Firestone tire allotment (NTT INDYCAR SERIES): Six sets primary, four sets alternate. One additional set is available to rookie drivers for use in the Friday practice session.

Twitter: @IMS @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #ThisIsMay, #INDYCAR

Instagram: @indianapolismotorspeedway, @indycar, @indynxt, #ThisIsMay, #INDYCAR

Facebook: @IndianapolisMotorSpeedway, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #ThisIsMay, #INDYCAR

TikTok: @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #INDYCAR

YouTube: @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT

Event website: http://www.ims.com

NTT INDYCAR SERIES website: http://www.indycar.com | INDY NXT by Firestonewebsite:http://www.indynxt.com

2022 race winners:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES-Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda)

INDY NXT by Firestone-Danial Frost (No. 68 HMD Motorsports), Linus Lundqvist (No. 26 HMD Motorsports)

2022 NTT P1 Award winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES): Will Power (No. 12 Verizon TeamPenske Chevrolet), 1 minute, 9.7664 seconds, 125.854 mph

2022 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winners: Linus Lundqvist (No. 26 HMD Motorsports)1:16.3362, 115.023 mph (race one), Lundqvist 1:16.4266, 114.887 (race two)

Qualifying records:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES-Will Power, 1:07.7044, 129.687 mph, May 12, 2017 (Set in Round 3 of knockout qualifying)

INDY NXT by Firestone-Ed Jones, 1:14.6743, 117.583 mph, May 13, 2016

NBC Sports race telecast: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday, May 13, NBC (live). Leigh Diffey is the play-by-play announcer for NBC’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe.

Peacock live streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying willstream live on Peacock, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product. NBC’s GMR GrandPrix race telecast will be simulcast on the streaming service. The INDY NXT by Firestone GrandPrix will be streamed live on Peacock with practice and qualifying shown on INDYCAR LIVE.

INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analystDavey Hamilton. Jake Query, Nick Yeoman and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Ryan Myrehn and Rob Blackman are the pit reporters. The GMR Grand Prix race (3 p.m. ET), INDYNXT by Firestone Grand Prix (12:55 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM160, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (all times local):

FRIDAY, MAY 12 (All times are local)

9:30-10:45 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice (75 minutes), Peacock

11-11:50 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice, INDYCAR LIVE3/5 

1-2 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice (45 minutes), Peacock

2:20-2:40 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying, INDYCAR LIVE

4 p.m. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of NTT INDYCAR SERIES knockoutqualifications), Peacock

SATURDAY, MAY 13

11:15-11:45 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, Peacock

1:05 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”

1:10 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix (35 laps/55 minutes), Peacock

3:30 p.m. NBC on air

3:39 p.m. “Drivers, start your engines”

3:45 p.m. GMR Grand Prix (85 laps/207.3 miles), NBC (Live)

Fast Facts By INDYCAR Header Image By Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR