2018 Indy 500 Notebook: Part 4: Until this time tomorrow

Tony Borroz opened what is called the "2018 Indy 500 Notebook" to examine the greatest spectacle of racing in an unedited way. This new series will span the days before and after the 102nd Indianapolis 500. The game is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 27. The 2018 Indy 500 Notebook is not exactly a live report, it is more like an original report. This is an unfiltered look, first of all what makes Indy 500 so attractive.

The prologue can be found here.

Part 2: “Hey Hinchcliffe, Wanna Race? Then Go Faster!”

Part 3: “Carb Day” here.

By This Time Tomorrow, this should all be over. We shall know who Won and who Lost. At this point, flip a coin. Sure, sure, the Penskes look strong as always and Carpenter is the hometown hero to pick, but one thing is immutable: None of these people have raced this aero package at these speeds.

Let me say that again:

None of these people have raced this aero package at these speeds.

This is the first time that Indycar teams will be going this fast with the new speedway aero kit. No one has run in traffic – let’s say, for the sake of discussion, that “traffic” means three-wide heading into Turn 3 at 230 mph – and no one has done it for 500 friggin’ miles.

Tony Kanaan was the fastest (227.791 mph) in the No. 14 ABC Supply AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet during final practice on Miller Lite Carb Day. Kanaan won the 2013 Indianapolis 500. Photo: IMS LLC.

Easy Peasy

I mean, say what you want about the driving precision needed to “work” at Monaco – and I

could, but we’re not covering Grand Prix racing (SPONSOR US), so I’ll have to connive a way to do that later – but screwing up tomorrow, in Speedway, Indiana is going to have Serious Consequences.

So don’t screw up. And don’t overreact to any near screw ups that anyone makes around you. And if someone does screw up, don’t get caught up in it . . . and take advantage of the yellow flag it’ll cause . . . and the next (inevitable) yellow . . . nail the pit stops . . . bring it into Victory Circle . . . drink your milk.

Simple.

Part 5: “On The Fly – Before The Green Flag” here.

Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of

Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon.

Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz