2020 Indianapolis 500
The 2020 Indianapolis 500 was a 500-mile automobile race held on Sunday, August 23, 2020, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. It was the premier event of the 2020 IndyCar Series. Takuma Sato won the race for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, his second Indianapolis 500 win, having previously won the 2017 race. It was also the second Indy 500 victory for car owners Bobby Rahal and David Letterman. It was Rahal's third overall victory overall in the event, as he won as a driver in 1986. It was also Honda's first Indy 500 win in the Reiwa era.
Five-time IndyCar Series champion, and 2008 race winner Scott Dixon started in the middle of the front row, and dominated much of the race. Dixon led 111 laps, and led by as many as 7 seconds at one point during the first half. After the final round of pit stops, however, Takuma Sato chased down and passed Dixon for position on lap 172, which proved to be the winning move. After all other cars had cycled through their final pit stops, Sato elevated to the lead on lap 186. He was leading the race on lap 196 when a caution came out for a heavy crash by Spencer Pigot at the pit lane attenuator. With insufficient time to red flag the race for the cleanup, the final four laps were run under caution with Sato taking the checkered flag.
Originally scheduled for May 24, the race was postponed to August 23 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Indiana. The 2020 running was the first time the race was not held on or around Memorial Day in late May. On August 4, it was announced that the race would be held without spectators.
Practice was held on August 12–14 and time trials was held on August 15–16. Carb Day, the traditional final day of practice, was scheduled for August 21. A somewhat truncated schedule was utilized, with numerous ancillary events cancelled. Marco Andretti, son of Michael Andretti and grandson of 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner Mario Andretti, won the pole position for Andretti Autosport. The achievement came 33 years after Mario won his third pole in 1987, and was the first Indy pole for the Andretti Autosport team since 2005. Andretti ended up finishing 13th, while the previous year's winner Simon Pagenaud of Team Penske finished 22nd.
Race background
Sponsorship
On January 31, 2019, it was announced that the online financial services company Gainbridge would become the new presenting sponsor of the 500 under a four-year deal. This was the second year under the current deal.Safety changes
On May 24, 2019, it was announced that IndyCar Series would introduce cockpit protection combining an aeroscreen and Halo system from 2020 season onward. The cockpit protection was built by Red Bull Advanced Technologies. The combination of aeroscreen and halo is designed to improve safety standards by deflecting debris away from a driver's head and was originally developed for use in Formula One and IndyCar before its application was expanded to other open-wheel championships. During the first two races of the season, drivers experienced stifling heat in the cockpits, caused by the now limited airflow. A supplemental air duct was added to the aeroscreen beginning at Iowa to help cool the cockpits.On July 17, 2020, the aeroscreen had its first major test at Iowa Speedway during the 2020 Iowa IndyCar 250s when during an aborted restart on lap 157, Ed Carpenter Racing's Rinus VeeKay appeared to slow behind eventual race winner Simon Pagenaud and move to the right, and behind the Dutch rookie, Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Racing's Colton Herta was caught in an accordion affect, launching the No. 88 Honda over the left-rear tire of VeeKay's No. 21 Chevy. Prior to getting significantly airborne, Herta's unimpeded nose—minus its wings—attempted to spear into the left side of VeeKay's cockpit, level with his helmet. With the aeroscreen acting as a vertical barrier, Herta's nose was forced upward, sliding skyward on the screen before hitting the top of the aeroscreen frame and flying over VeeKay's Dallara DW12 chassis. This saved VeeKay from apparent serious injury.
Ownership changes
On November 3, 2019, it was announced that Penske Entertainment Corp., a subsidiary of the Penske Corporation, owned by Roger Penske, had purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the IndyCar Series, and IMS Productions. Penske, owner of Team Penske stepped down as full-time race strategist to focus on the new ownership roles. The sale was finalized in January 2020.Shortly after acquiring the property, Penske swiftly began upgrading and beautifying several areas at the track, particularly in the spectator areas. A refurbishment of the restrooms and concession stands, as well as widening and re-paving/paving walkways behind the grandstands along with new fencing was completed in the spring. Thirty new video boards were installed along the mainstretch grandstands, along with a new video screen on the back of the Pagoda in the Pagoda Plaza. Other improvements included power washing, painting, improved internet service, general repairs, landscaping, hardscaping, and new lighting at the main gate. The victory lane podium was refurbished to include a new platform hoist to lift the winning car to the top.
Qualifying changes
- The Last Row Shootout was expanded to a 75-minute session in order to allow multiple qualifying attempts for each participant. In the previous year participants in the shootout were permitted only one attempt. However, only 33 cars entered the 2020 event meaning there would be no last row shootout in 2020.
- For practice on Fast Friday and during time trials, turbocharger boost settings were increased to allow an additional. Engines were permitted 150 kPa of turbocharger "boost".
Rule changes
- Teams were permitted seven crew members over-the-wall servicing the car during pit stops. This was up from six utilized from 1988 to 2019. The sole purpose of the seventh member is to clean or remove tear-offs from the new aeroscreen. Teams were allowed four tire changers, one fueler, one pneumatic jack operator, and one aeroscreen attendant. The aeroscreen attendant is not permitted to service any other part of the car. After cockpit cooling issues during the first two races of the season, the aeroscreen attendant was also given the permission to provide the driver with a drink bottle.
- Grid penalties for unapproved engine changes were reinstated for the 2020 season. However, no penalties were served at the Indianapolis 500. Penalties from the previous race, or penalties incurred at the 500 were enforced at Gateway.
- Any unapproved work performed on a car during red flag conditions will result in immediate disqualification. Previously, cars were only assessed a two-lap penalty for unapproved work during red flags.
Schedule
On March 26, the series announced the rescheduling of the 2020 Indianapolis 500 to August 23. The GMR Grand Prix was rescheduled for and held July 4, as part of the NASCAR Brickyard 400 weekend, and a matinee doubleheader with the Xfinity Series Pennzoil 150. On May 31, it was announced that the 2020 Indy Lights season had been cancelled, and therefore the Freedom 100, traditionally run on Carb Day, would not be held.
The first two IndyCar events were held mostly behind closed doors. Roger Penske stated on June 8 that "we are going to run it with fans", and that the race could be delayed further if they are unable to admit spectators. On June 26, it was initially announced that spectators would be admitted for the Indianapolis 500 at half capacity, including restricting grandstands, and not holding the Snake Pit concert party.
On July 20, Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles stated that the IndyCar Series was continuing to work with local health officials, and that "unless the COVID-19 world crashes in on us and healthcare metrics really turn south meaningfully, I'm quite confident we'll be able to do the race." On July 21, the Speedway announced the attendance cap for the race would be reduced to a quarter of its total capacity, and that attendees would be required to wear face coverings. On August 4, citing COVID-19 case trends in Marion County, it was announced that the race would be held without spectators.
On August 7, the Last Row Shootout, previously scheduled to take place directly before the Fast Nine Shootout on August 16, was cancelled since the final entry list did not contain more than 33 entries.
Source: FestivitiesOn March 18, it was announced that the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon scheduled for May 2 would not be held. On July 22, Legends Day and the 500 Festival Parade downtown were cancelled. The annual Last Row Party was cancelled, as well as the annual Old Timers Banquet and Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The 2020 Hall of Fame class will be inducted alongside the 2021 class.On August 4, it was announced that the Pit Stop Challenge, traditionally held on Carb Day, would be cancelled. On August 7, the traditional balloon release was removed from the pre-race festivities. Dr. Elvis Francois and Dr. William Robinson, known as the "Singing Surgeons", will perform "The Star-Spangled Banner". Francois and Robinson previously performed "God Bless America" during the NBC Special "Back Home Again" on May 24. Jim Cornelison returned for his fourth year to perform "Back Home Again in Indiana" Start timeCiting summer heat, the Speedway announced the start time would be moved back one hour and forty-five minutes from 12:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., the latest scheduled start time of the Indianapolis 500. For many years after World War II, the race had traditionally been scheduled to start at 11 a.m. local time, which was typically equivalent to 12 p.m. EDT. After exceptions in 1970, and from 2005 to 2010, the race went back to a 12 p.m. EDT start time since 2011, but switched to 12:45 p.m. in 2019 under NBC's television contract.With the final round coverage of The Open Championship at Royal Troon, a women's golf major, scheduled for August 23 to air on NBC, the later start time allows The Open to finish without interfering with television coverage of the Indy 500. On July 8, NASCAR announced the remainder of its schedule through the end of August, which included a 200-mile Xfinity Series and 500-kilometer Cup Series doubleheader at Dover the same day as the Indy 500. The races were part of a twin race weekend for both series where both series raced the respective distances. The races aired in part against the Indy 500 on NBCSN. |