Fast Six: What's trending in INDYCAR
MAY 22, 2019
INDYCAR's #FastSix is a report that borrows from all things found online about NTT IndyCar Series racing, its drivers and people. We find pics, quips and the occasional GIF as INDYCAR drivers live their extraordinary lives and put the evidence on Twitter, Instagram and more. Check back regularly for the latest.
Dogged determination
Every year after qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is complete, the top three qualifiers participate in the front row photo shoot.
Pole sitter Simon Pagenaud was among the drivers there Monday and his dog, Norman, didn’t want to miss it.
When your dad is taking pictures on the front row and you don't want to miss it. 📸😁
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) May 20, 2019
Don't worry, @NormanPagenaud made it. 🐶#ThisIsMay | #Indy500 | @simonpagenaud pic.twitter.com/2Nm02bgSir
Wickens inspired by own inspirational story
Robert Wickens is already pushing hard enough to recover from the serious injuries he sustained last year in a crash. But the Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver has dedicated himself to work even harder after seeing the NBC Sports segment on him narrated by Mike Tirico, who will host NBC's first Indy 500 race broadcast on Sunday.
Thank you @NBCSports for this amazing piece!! I will do everything in my power to get back behind the wheel! #thisismay #indy500 https://t.co/kW2OLRkdH6
— Robert Wickens (@robertwickens) May 21, 2019
Fan returns gift favor to Karam
Fans of the NTT IndyCar Series are some of the best in all of sports, no matter how old. Last year, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing’s Sage Karam gave a young fan a hat and a pair of race gloves during the month of May.
This year, that same fan returned with the gift of a Lego set for Karam to build. Maybe Sage has a future as a car constructor.
.@SageKaram finished his @LEGO_Group car project Saturday night. He might need another project today with the rain. Sage ran a 228.083 mph in Sunday's practice. #WIXIndy #Indy500 #ThisIsMay pic.twitter.com/AtWuuWXIOj
— Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (@DRRIndyCar) May 19, 2019
Bank of Alonso is open
The annual “Casino Night” for members of the Indy 500 Club is attended by all drivers each year on the eve of qualifications. When 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Power of Team Penske realized he was running low on betting chips, he found financial relief from McLaren’s Fernando Alonso.
Power, of course, had to document the transaction.
Almost ran out of money at the charity casino, but got a loan from @alo_oficial. 💰💰🏁
— Will Power (@12WillPower) May 18, 2019
// #ThisIsMay / #INDYCAR / #INDY500 (PR) pic.twitter.com/EgNWzU2MVB
Source of Herta’s super rookie power?
Rookie driver Colton Herta of Harding Steinbrenner Racing has had a very good month of May and is looking good heading to his first Indy 500 after qualifying fifth.
Team co-owner George Steinbrenner IV had some fun with his driver using a replica hand of the “Avengers” film character Thanos. The hand might have the six stones, but Herta is chasing another gem in an Indianapolis 500 victory on Sunday.
Just a normal co-owner watching his driver post-qualifying. #ThisIsMay // #MyPlayground // #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/x0ekKuyJSP
— Harding Steinbrenner Racing (@FollowHSRacing) May 18, 2019
‘Seven time’ visits Indy 500 for first time
The Indianapolis 500 is attractive to many people around the world, including drivers from other series. NASCAR’s driver Jimmie Johnson, who has seven Cup championships and has won four times at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Brickyard 400, stopped by practice last week to get his first in-person look at Indy cars on the oval.
He was impressed.
.@JimmieJohnson's won four #Brickyard400-mile races, and raced an @F1 car with @alo_oficial.
— IndyCar on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 16, 2019
Would he run in the #Indy500? He says probably not, but didn't rule out running other @IndyCar events. #MustBeMay pic.twitter.com/iNHgQeawza