INDIANAPOLIS – Racing drivers provide inspiration in many ways.

Jack Harvey did so in a special way with a special needs child named William. On Thursday, they celebrated their friendship at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Harvey, driver of the No. 60 AutoNation/Sirius XM MSR with SPM Honda, met William on May 8 when the Brit was among more than a dozen INDYCAR drivers participating in the #Horsepower500 charity tricycle race at Children’s TherAplay in Carmel, Indiana. Children’s TherAplay uses hippotherapy – the movement of horses – as one of its physical and occupational therapy treatments.

William, 6, takes advantage of the hippotherapy but had reached a plateau in his treatment when it came to tying his shoelaces. When Harvey met William at the #Horsepower500, he talked with the youngster about how fun and helpful it is to tie shoelaces. The next day, when William returned to Children’s TherAplay for his occupational therapy, he sat down and tied his shoelaces nearly by himself for the first time.

William’s family and therapists were overjoyed with the achievement, so they arranged for him to visit IMS on Thursday and see Harvey again. The two met at the yard of bricks in Pagoda Plaza and both showed off their skill at tying their shoelaces.

Nine crews vying for honors in Indy 500 Pit Stop Competition

Before they compete on track in the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, nine of the Verizon IndyCar Series’ best over-the-wall pit crews will compete to decide which team is the fastest on pit lane.

The annual Indianapolis 500 Pit Stop Competition on Miller Lite Carb Day pits crews in a head-to-head, drag race-style event with teams vying to claim the winner’s share of $50,000 from a total purse of $100,000.

“It’s great to have an event that really highlights the talents of the team members,” said Jay Frye, INDYCAR president of competition and operations. “Kevin ‘Rocket’ Blanch, INDYCAR’s technical director, has continued to build an event that excites the fans and demonstrates how much racing is really a team sport.”

For the second year in a row, the final round will be a best-of-three showdown to claim the United Race Parts Golden Gun awarded to the winning team. In addition, Blanch has amassed nearly $35,000 in prizes to present to contest participants.

Five crews qualified based on performance during the 2017 season and 2018 races prior to the Indianapolis 500. Each earned automatic bids into the quarterfinals. Those teams are:  the No. 5 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team of James Hinchcliffe, No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing team of Scott Dixon, No. 12 Team Penske team of Will Power, No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team of Graham Rahal and No. 27 Andretti Autosport team of Alexander Rossi.

The remaining teams were invited based on being the next-highest-ranked team of a full-time series entrant or an Indianapolis 500 competitor. Two will meet in the first round with the No. 1 Team Penske crew of Josef Newgarden taking on the No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team of Sage Karam. The No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing team of Ed Jones and Robert Wickens’ No. 6 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team received byes to the quarterfinals.

Team Penske and Power beat Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and Hinchcliffe to win the competition in 2017. It was the second consecutive season that Penske and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports met for the title.

The Pit Stop Competition begins at 1:30 p.m. ET Friday, following completion of the Indy Lights Freedom 100 race.

Indianapolis 500 featured as category on ‘Jeopardy!’

Indianapolis 500 fans can tune in to the game show “Jeopardy!” on Friday to catch an entire category dedicated to “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The exposure on the popular syndicated show is geared to rev up anticipation for Sunday’s 102nd running of the race.

Check local listings to see when “Jeopardy!” airs in local markets.