By Samantha Ehresman

​

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. ― The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was quieter on Wednesday as strong winds kept many teams from practicing. Wind speeds of up to 22 mph with gusts reaching 32 mph made things interesting on the track.  Indianapolis Motor Speedway radio announcer Kevin Lee said that winds this strong are extremely rare for the track and prove to be a risk for the drivers.

Driver Sage Karam said it was too windy to drive, forcing him to practice only pit stops.  Scott Dixon decided to drive, and reached a lap speed of 222.599 mph. For Dixon the decision to drive was a personal one.  “I think for us it was a question if we could learn something.”

​

Ed Carpenter turned in the fastest lap speed of the day at nearly 223 mph.  "The wind was very, very gusty, variable and to me, if you can go out and get comfortable in conditions like that, I think it bodes well for the car, the race car and how comfortable you can be," Carpenter said. "And you never know, it could be this windy on race day."

​

Tom Bellew, head of the bodywork department for Schmidt-Peterson racing, said IndyCars are rely on aerodynamics and the use of negative lift to keep them close to the track.  He said that if wind were to hit an IndyCar from the side, it would effect the steering causing the car to swerve. 

​

While drivers battle the winds, some fans welcomed the breeze the help with the warm temperatures that have been looming over the track this week. But others aren’t so sure.  “I have to hold on to my hat so it won’t blow away,” Gerald Ludke said.  Ludke has been taking in the Indianapolis 500 events for 40 years and said it was just too windy.   

Winds are expected to continue tomorrow, but they won’t be as strong.  Thursday’s issue could be a wet track with rains expected in the morning.