The United States Grand Prix, which starts at 1 p. m. (local time) Sunday, June 17, is the featured event of three days of nearly non-stop action at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Formula One fans also will enjoy longer practice sessions on the opening day of the event, Friday, June 15, as the skilled drivers and exotic cars of F1 will be on track for three hours total, an hour longer than in 2006.
Three support series also will be on track on the 2.605-mile road circuit – the Indy Pro Series™, IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Michelin and Formula BMW USA, giving fans a wide variety of racing machinery and competition to enjoy. The Liberty Challenge for the Indy Pro Series will consist of two races during the weekend, a first for the series at this event.
The first seven United States Grands Prix at Indianapolis have taken place in front of some of the largest crowds in the Formula One World Championship.
On-track activity starts Friday, June 15 with practice for Formula One and practice and qualifying for support series. Cars will be on track for nearly nine hours, from 8:45 a. m.-5:40 p. m., with few breaks in the action.
Two 90-minute practice sessions, starting at 10 a. m. and 2 p. m., are the highlights of the Friday schedule. Drivers such as two-time defending World Champion Fernando Alonso, American Scott Speed, rookie phenom Lewis Hamilton, new Ferrari signing Kimi Raikkonen and 2002 USGP winner Rubens Barrichello will be on track preparing for qualifying Saturday and the race Sunday.
The Indy Pro Series, the premier ladder series for drivers and teams striving to compete in the IndyCar Series, will start track action Friday with a practice session from 8:45-9:15 a. m. for the third annual Liberty Challenge.
Qualifying for the first Liberty Challenge race takes place from 4-4:45 p. m. Friday.
The IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Michelin will make its USGP debut with a practice session from 11:55 a. m.-12:25 p. m. Friday. The American-based series uses Porsche 911 GT3 Cup full-bodied production sports cars virtually identical to the Porsche Supercup cars that raced at the USGP from 2000-06.
Formula BMW USA open-wheel, winged formula cars, competing at Indianapolis for the fourth consecutive year, will practice from 12:50-1:20 p. m. and qualify from 5:10-5:40 p. m. Friday.
The unique sound and speed of Formula One cars will start the schedule Saturday, June 16, as the 22 drivers will make final preparations for qualifying with a practice session from 10-11 a. m.
Formula BMW USA will follow at 11:25 a. m. with the first of its two races for young North American drivers aspiring to climb the ranks in open-wheel road racing.
F1 qualifying will take center stage from 1-2 p. m. with the exciting, three-phase “knockout” format continuing this year. The slowest 12 drivers will be eliminated in the first two “knockout” phases, with the fastest 10 competing for the pole in the thrilling 15-minute final session.
IMSA GT3 Cup drivers will conduct a qualifying session from 2:30-3:15 p. m.
The first 25-lap race for the Liberty Challenge will complete a full day of action Saturday at 3:45 p. m. Defending Liberty Challenge champion Alex Lloyd has won the first five races of the Indy Pro Series season, a series record. Indiana residents Logan Gomez and Doug Boyer also are scheduled to compete in both Liberty Challenge races.
Four races will comprise a complete day of competition Sunday, June 17.
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