The 2015 Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday May 24, 2015. It was the premier event of the 2015 season of the Verizon IndyCar Series. Juan Pablo Montoya won his second Indianapolis 500, followed in the finish by Will Power, Charlie Kimball, polesitter Scott Dixon, and Graham Rahal.
For the second year in a row, the month of May activities opened with the Grand Prix of Indianapolis over May 7–9. Practice opened on May 11, and time trials were held on May 16–17. Rain interrupted and eventually washed out time trials on May 16, and all qualifications were held on Sunday May 17.
The victory capped off a successful return to Indy car racing for Montoya. The 1999 CART champion and 2000 Indy 500 winner had left American open-wheel racing for Formula One for 2001–2005. He then switched to the NASCAR Cup Series, and also competed in Grand Am. Out of Indy car racing for thirteen seasons, Montoya surprisingly signed with Team Penske for 2014, and finished 5th in the 2014 race, only his second Indy 500 start. Later that year he won the Pocono 500, and by winning the 2015 Indy 500, set a record for most years between two victories - fifteen years (2000 and 2015).
The 2015 race saw the debut of unique aero kits from Chevrolet and Honda, respectively, outfitted for the Dallara DW12 chassis. As part of the ICONIC project, aero kits were originally planned for 2012, but a series of delays due to cost issues put off their homologation and implementation until 2015. During practice, three Chevrolet entries suffered major crashes that resulted in flip-overs. The crashes raised safety concerns around the paddock, and series officials delayed time trials for several hours in order to address the situation with rule and procedural changes, removing qualifying from its status as a points-paying event.
During a practice session on May 18, IndyCar's Holmatro Safety Team was lauded for a life-saving effort in their rescue of driver James Hinchcliffe. During the run, Hinchcliffe was involved in a major crash, and was impaled by a suspension member. The rapid response by the medical crews was credited with likely saving his life, and nine days later he was released from Methodist Hospital, expected to make a full recovery. Hinchcliffe was able to drive the IndyCar two-seater at a promotional event in August at the Golden Gate Bridge, then made his first competitive laps in a Dan Wheldon Memorial karting event in September.
Race background
Entry list
1996 winner Buddy Lazier stated his intention to return in 2015 with his family-owned Lazier Partners Racing, but did not qualify. Jonathan Byrd II fielded a new team, Jonathan Byrd's Racing, paying homage to his late father Jonathan Byrd, an Indy 500 enthusiast who owned a local cafeteria and sponsored cars driven by such drivers as Stan Fox, Arie Luyendyk, and Rich Vogler. Their driver was Bryan Clauson. On November 3, 2014, a third standalone entry was announced, with Jay Howard running #97 for Bryan Herta Autosport. However, funding for this car fell through, and BHA only ran their full season #98 for Gabby Chaves. On April 2, 2015, it was announced Simona de Silvestro would be making an attempt at the race driving the #29 Honda for Andretti Autosport.
Rules and rule changes Each entry were allowed 36 sets of tires (Firestone) total, for practice, time trials, and for the race. This is up from 33 sets previously. The special compound "red" tires are not used for oval events. Entries participating in the promoter's open test on May 3 received four additional sets for use on that day only. Entries taking part in a rookie test or a refresher test received an additional set(s) specifically to use for the respective test. Engines were permitted 130 kPa of turbocharger "boost" during the promoter's open test on May 3, and during practice from May 11–14. Cars were allowed 140 kPa of "boost" on Fast Friday practice, and during time trials. The "boost" level reverted to 130 kPa for Carb day and race day. Note: Increased "boost" for time trials was rescinded by officials after crashes during practice (see below).
Pre-race ceremonies The a cappella group Straight No Chaser performed "Back Home Again in Indiana" during the pre-race ceremonies. The group replaced Jim Nabors, who sang for the final time in 2014. On May 19, it was announced that recording artist Jordin Sparks will perform the National Anthem Four-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Sr. was honored during Legends Day festivities.
Schedule Track activities began on Sunday May 3, with Opening Day, featuring the debut of oval aero kits. A full-field open test and rookie orientation took place on the oval from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the week, the track was reconfigured to the road course configuration. After the Grand Prix was concluded, the track was closed on Mother's Day, unlike 2014. On Sunday May 10, the track was converted back to the oval configuration, meanwhile, teams had the day to convert the cars from road course to oval set-up.
The track re-opened in oval configuration starting Monday May 11. A second session of rookie orientation was reserved for the track on Monday (if needed), with veterans taking to the track in the afternoon. Practice on Tuesday through Friday was held from 12 noon to 6 p.m. For the second year in a row, a post-qualifying practice session was held on the Monday after pole day. For the second year in a row, time trials were conducted with a combined two-day format. The 33 cars that comprised the field was determined on Saturday, while the starting lineup was set on Sunday.
Race schedules — April/May 2015SunMonTueWedThuFriSat26 27 28 29 30 1 2Mini-Marathon 3Open Test 4 5 6Road to IndyOpen test 7Grand PrixPractice 8Grand PrixQualifying 9Grand Prixof Indianapolis 10Car conversion day11Practice 12Practice 13Practice 14Practice 15Practice <br/ > Fast Friday 16Time Trials 17Pole Day 18VICS and LightsPractice19 20CommunityDay21IL QualifyingBriscoe test22Carb Day Freedom 10023Legends DayParade24Indianapolis50025MemorialDay26 27 28 29 30 31 Color Notes Green Practice Dark Blue Time trials Silver Race day Red Rained out* Blank No track activity * Includes days where trackactivity was significantly limited due to rain
Testing and Rookie orientation
Rookie Orientation / Refresher tests – Sunday May 3 The track was reserved for rookie orientation from 10:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. The 40-lap rookie test consists of three phases, demonstrating car control, placement, and a consistent driving pattern. Phase one consists of 10 laps at 205-210 mph, phase two consists of 15 laps at 210-215 mph, and phase three requires 15 laps at over 215 mph. Series rookie Gabby Chaves completed all three phases, while Stefano Coletti was out of the country and completed the test on May 11.
Refresher tests were completed by Bryan Clauson, Simona de Silvestro, Oriol Servià, Pippa Mann, Justin Wilson, James Jakes, Conor Daly and Sage Karam. Davey Hamilton came out of retirement to drive the Dreyer & Reinbold/Kingdom Racing entry to shake down the car as a substitute for Townsend Bell, who was competing in the IMSA Monterey Sports Car Championships at Laguna Seca.
Promoter's open test – Sunday May 3 Opening day featured a full-field open test on Sunday May 3, concentrating on the new oval aero kits. The track was available for veteran drivers from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., then for all drivers from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. A total of 28 cars completed 1,845 laps without incident. Juan Pablo Montoya led the speed chart with a top lap of 226.772 mph. A total of 21 drivers exceeded the fastest lap from opening day of 2014. Though Montoya was the over fastest for the day, Hélio Castroneves reportedly ran the fastest single lap without a tow.
Weather: , mostly sunny
Top Practice Speeds Driver Team Engine 12 Juan Pablo Montoya Team Penske Chevrolet226.77223 Hélio Castroneves Team Penske Chevrolet226.468327 Marco Andretti Andretti Autosport Honda226.268OFFICIAL REPORT
Practice
Monday May 11
The first day of practice was scheduled for Monday May 11. The day opened with rookie orientation and refresher tests. J. R. Hildebrand and Townsend Bell led the early speeds during the refresher tests, while Stefano Coletti completed his rookie test. Heavy rain halted track activity at about 1:45 p.m. The track re-opened at 4:15 p.m. for full-field practice. At 4:32 p.m., James Jakes's crew suffered a broken inertial starter, which in-turn, threw debris and injured a crew member. At 6:15 p.m., Stefano Coletti did a half-spin in pit lane, but did not make contact. A total of 30 cars completed 1,094 laps, with Sage Karam (225.802 mph), the fastest overall for the day. Karam's Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon posted the fastest "no-tow" lap at 224.443 mph
Weather: , overcast and rain
Top Practice Speeds — Overall Driver Team Engine 18 Sage Karam Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet225.80229 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet225.293310 Tony Kanaan Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet225.217OFFICIAL REPORT
Tuesday May 12
The second day of practice was scheduled for May 12. At 2:07 p.m., Simona de Silvestro's car started smoking in the exit of turn two. Down the backstretch, a small fire broke out under the engine cover, and de Silvestro stopped the car near the warm up lane at the end of the backstretch. The car quickly became engulfed in flames, and de Silvestro quickly exited the car, uninjured. It was determined the fire was caused by a fuel leak in the refueling buckeye. Later in the day at 4:30 p.m., James Jakes car came to a stop at the entrance to the pit area with smoke pouring from the engine, and about 20 minutes later, Jack Hawksworth pulled into the grass in turn two with brake failure. The track closed five minutes early at 5:55 p.m. when Justin Wilson's engine blew going down the main stretch. Hélio Castroneves set the fast lap of the day, both overall (227.514 mph) and "no-tow" (225.315 mph). Several teams, including Andretti Autosport, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, and Team Penske, went out together in groups, conducting drafting practice, ostensibly concentrating on race day set-ups.
Weather: , cloudy, wind gusts up to 30 mph
Top Practice Speeds Driver Team Engine 13 Hélio Castroneves Team Penske Chevrolet227.514222 Simon Pagenaud Team Penske Chevrolet227.38239 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet226.769OFFICIAL REPORT
Wednesday May 13
Two single-car incidents marred the third full day of practice. At 12:45 p.m., Hélio Castroneves' car stepped out in turn one. He did a half-spin, and hit the outside wall in the south short chute with the left side of the car. Sliding backwards, the car became airborne and did a flip, landing upright in turn two. Castroneves walked away uninjured. In the final hour, Pippa Mann went high through the exit of turn four, and spun at the north end of the main stretch. The car slid and hit the inside wall, then hit the attenuator at the end of the pit wall. The car violently spun back on to the main stretch, and came to rest against the outside wall. Mann was not seriously injured.
Track activity was highlighted by Carlos Muñoz, who turned the first 230 mph lap of the month. His lap of 230.121 came during "Happy Hour" with about six minutes left in the day. After the crew worked during the afternoon to prepare his back-up car, Hélio Castroneves was back out on the track turning laps after his wreck earlier in the day. Scott Dixon (226.411 mph) posted the fastest "no-tow" lap.
Weather: , sunny and clear
Top Practice Speeds Driver Team Engine 126 Carlos Muñoz Andretti Autosport Honda230.121224 Townsend Bell Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet228.969310 Tony Kanaan Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet228.172OFFICIAL REPORT
Thursday May 14