IndyCar sets Carb Day final practice 10 a.m.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway set the final Indianapolis 500 practice for 10 a.m. Eastern on Friday, May 22, putting the last on-track session of Carb Day at the front of a packed pre-race schedule. The session comes two days before the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24, at the Speedway in Indiana. Friday’s program also includes the Oscar Mayer Wienie 500, the pit-stop competition and a post-track concert headlined by Counting Crows. Forecasts from Indianapolis television station WTHR said rain chances were expected on and off through Friday, Saturday and Sunday, though the station said there should be “lots of dry time” mixed in. ### When does the final practice actually start? The Indianapolis Motor Speedway event schedule lists the NTT IndyCar Series final practice on Carb Day beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, May 22. The Speedway’s public schedule says gates open at 8 a.m. and describes Miller Lite Carb Day as the lead-in to the Indianapolis 500 weekend. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) IndyCar’s radio schedule lists the Carb Day final practice from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern, indicating broadcast coverage timing rather than contradicting the Speedway’s posted event start. FOX Sports and NBC Chicago both described Friday as the last major tune-up before Sunday’s race. ### What else is on the Carb Day schedule besides practice? IndyStar reported that Carb Day again includes the final Indianapolis 500 practice, the Wienie 500, a pit-stop challenge and a concert. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) The newspaper described the day as the traditional Friday kickoff to Memorial Day weekend at the track, even though Indy cars no longer use carburetors. (indycar.com) The Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 is scheduled for Friday afternoon, and IndyStar reported in March that six Wienermobiles would return to race on the track ahead of the 110th Indianapolis 500. IndyCar’s radio schedule places the Wienie 500 at 2 p.m., followed by the pit-stop competition at 2:30 p.m. (indystar.com) ### Who is playing the Carb Day concert? FOX Sports reported last month that Counting Crows will headline the Miller Lite Carb Day concert on Friday, May 22, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. FOX said Switchfoot is scheduled as the opening act. IndyStar’s concert guide also listed Counting Crows and Switchfoot on the Carb Day bill. The Speedway schedule says gates remain open until the conclusion of the concert. (indystar.com) ### How much could weather affect the weekend? WTHR said on Thursday that on-and-off rain chances were likely for Carb Day on Friday, Parade Day on Saturday and race day on Sunday. (foxsports.com) The station added that there would be “lots of dry time” during the weekend. (indystar.com) FOX Sports separately published an Indy 500 weather forecast item as part of its race-week coverage, underscoring weather as a planning factor for teams and fans. No organizer announcement in the material reviewed indicated a schedule change to Friday’s Carb Day program. ### What comes next before the green flag? FOX Sports said the 110th Indianapolis 500 will be run on Sunday, May 24, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. (wthr.com) FOX also said its race telecast begins at 12:30 p.m. Eastern, with expanded prerace coverage starting at 10 a.m. IndyCar’s radio schedule lists pre-race coverage beginning at 10 a.m. (foxsports.com) Sunday and the race at 12:30 p.m. Friday’s Carb Day final practice is the last full-track session before the field returns for race day. (indycar.com) (foxsports.com)