Indy 500 Qualifying 2015: Weekend Race Schedule, TV Coverage and Live Stream
The Indy 500 is known as the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, and that moniker certainly applies for the 2015 field.
Six former race champions are on the entry list, including three-time champion Helio Castroneves and 2015 points leader Juan Pablo Montoya, and only two rookies made the cut. That means the 99th running of the most famous IndyCar race will be a veteran-loaded affair that will certainly impact the tight standings in the early going this season.
Before the drivers hit the track for the actual race on May 24, they must go through qualifying. Here is a look at the qualifying schedule for the Indy 500, courtesy of IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com (the broadcast schedule can be found here).
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
The Indy 500 qualifying and practice runs can be live streamed courtesy of IndyCar.com.
| Saturday | |
| 8-8:30 a.m. | Verizon IndyCar Series Group 1 Practice |
| 8:30-9 a.m. | Verizon IndyCar Series Group 2 Practice |
| 9-10 a.m. | Verizon IndyCar Series Full Field Practice |
| 9 a.m.-6 p.m. | IMS Midway Open |
| 11 a.m.-5:50 p.m. | Verizon IndyCar Series Qualifying - Positions 1-9 Advance to Fast 9 |
| Sunday | |
| 8:30-9:30 a.m. | Verizon IndyCar Series Practice |
| 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | IMS Midway Open |
| 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Verizon IndyCar Series Group 1 Qualifying (Positions 10-30) |
| 12:45-1:30 p.m. | Verizon IndyCar Series Group 2 Qualifying (Positions 31-33) |
| 2-2:45 p.m. | Verizon IndyCar Series Fast 9 Qualifying (Positions 1-9) |
| Saturday, May 16 | Day 1 of Qualifying | 4-6 p.m. | ABC |
| Sunday, May 17 | Day 2 of Qualifying | 1-3 p.m. | ABC |
Predicted Indy 500 Winner: Helio Castroneves
Castroneves is an Indy 500 legend, and he has the opportunity to cement himself in history May 24.
Castroneves won the sport's most famous race in 2001, 2002 and 2009 and is one victory away from joining Rick Mears, Al Unser and A.J. Foyt as the only drivers to win the Indy 500 four times in a career. A victory would also mark win No. 30 on his illustrious resume, but some of his most notable performances came in Indianapolis.
Castroneves is the only multi-time winner in the field in this year's edition, and experience matters. The pressure-packed event can crush those who aren't prepared, and there will be nobody as primed as Castroneves to dominate the track.
He may be a 40-year-old veteran, but he has been a model of consistency thus far this season. He sits in third place in the standings with 153 points and is only behind Montoya (171) and Will Power (166). He has four top-10 finishes and three top-five finishes in five starts thus far this season and is still a factor every time he is in the field.
Interestingly, he crashed during Wednesday's practice session, but even that could pay off by race day. He discussed the daunting wreck, per Jeff Olson of USA Today: “It caught us by surprise. With this new aero kit, we were trying something different. Even the most experienced guys get surprised. Looking at the data, I know exactly what happened, and that’s why I have no issues (with returning).”
Fortunately for his fans, Castroneves apparently knows "exactly what happened" and will likely adjust moving forward. There is plenty of time to do that before the May 24 race, and we are talking about a driver who understands how fast this track is and where to push the limits with his car.
Adjusting to new data should not be a problem.
Curt Cavin of the Indianapolis Star pointed out that nobody should overlook Castroneves in Indianapolis:
"Helio Castroneves is here, as good as ever.
Castroneves might not be the freshest story of the May that opened Sunday, but he might still be one of the best. He has as much talent as charm, and come May 24 will have another chance to score the elusive and record-tying fourth 500 victory.
...figures to keep adding to those totals, too, given his ride with IndyCar's best top-to-bottom team. Team Penske employs four drivers who finished in the top five of last year's standings, and Castroneves has never looked stronger.
"
Castroneves is a legend in the sport, has an excellent and proven team behind him in Team Penske and understands what it takes to win the Indy 500.
What's more, he already has two poles this year and has looked his best at times in qualifying. If he can once again turn in a dominant performance at qualifying, it would set himself up with nothing but open track ahead on race day.
That possibility combined with his resume at the Indy 500, as well as his veteran guile and experience, will be too much for the rest of the field.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
