Trackside Podcast

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin open the show with qualifying for the Gallagher Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They touch on how Josef Newgarden is feeling on Friday less than a week after his crash. Kevin and Curt discuss the struggles of Chip Ganassi Racing in qualifying and Scott Dixon’s comments. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway, is that the IMSA sports car championship is returning to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in September 2023. The IMSA Battle on the Bricks will take to the road course for the first time since 2014. Kevin and Curt detail more about the announcement and dive into an IMSA discussion. Chip Ganassi declined to make a comment on Alex Palou, but the two discuss updates in the Palou-Chip Ganassi situation, specifically the legal side of things. To round out a full week of Trackside, Kevin and Curt discuss a Racer report about next year’s IndyCar schedule, answer Twitter questions and get you ready for a weekend of racing!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin open the show with Josef Newgarden being cleared for racing this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Then, they get right to our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway, that Callum Ilott signed a long-term contract with Juncos Hollinger Racing. Kevin bounces around Prime 47 at a domestic violence fundraiser packed with drivers racing this weekend speaking to Sheldon Creed who will drive a midget car next weeknd. Then, Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson casually stops by to talk about what’s going on at IMS and the road course characteristics. Kevin and Curt talk about August 1 being the time that Rinus VeeKay can negotiate with teams and if he’s in the best situation already. Then, Nate Ryan from NBC Sports joins Curt for a conversation about the unprecedented situation that Alex Palou finds himself in with Chip Ganassi Racing. Nate and Curt talk about the role Formula 1 is playing in the whole situation. Then, they discuss drama on the NASCAR side and the disqualifications that happened last weekend, why Ty Gibbs is such a big story and how he might end up in a Joe Gibbs Racing seat. They finish the conversation looking at favorites this weekend in the Cup series and Will Power. Kevin wraps up the show from Prime 47 with Dr. Chernoff raising awareness for the Survivors of Violence Foundation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin continue discussing the upcoming weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the big off-track news that Chip Ganassi is suing Alex Palou. They discuss the likelihood that Palou is in the No. 10 car next season and what’s in his best interest as a driver next year. How much do Palou’s actions have to do with the possibility that he might be in the running for a Formula 1 seat at McLaren? Kevin and Curt once again touch on Devlin DeFrancesco’s situation with Andretti reportedly exploring options for the No. 29 car. Also, who is going to drive the No. 2 car in Indianapolis? After Josef Newgarden’s crash in Iowa, Kevin and Curt discuss the latest on the story and what they’ve heard over the last 24 hours, as well as what caused the crash. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway, is that Kurt Busch is going to miss his second straight Cup race due to concussion-like symptoms. Ty Gibbs will take his place once again. On one other NASCAR note, Kevin and Curt chat about the uncertainty of Kyle Busch’ future. To round out the show, the two discuss tomorrow’s Juncos Hollinger Racing announcement, Dale Coyne Racing releases, answer some Twitter questions, and say farewell to Trackside producer Sam Rumpza.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin speculate about the Racer.com report that Devlin DeFrancesco might be out of the number 29 car for Andretti Autosport at season's end, and the possibility for either Rinus VeeKay or David Malukas to race for either Andretti Autosport next year. They discuss new theories on the Alex Palou saga and talk about the number 10 car, including other names that could make their way into the mix with either Ganassi or Andretti. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is that former F1 driver Daniil Kyvat will drive in the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard in the NASCAR Cup Series and some of the other interesting entries for this weekend. Later, they continue to recap the Hy-Vee Iowa doubleheader and take listener questions, such as the future of Gateway and other schedule questions. Kevin then gives information on Thursday night's event at Prime 47 and some of the items that will available to bid on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin recap the Hy-Vee Doubleheader at Iowa Speedway, with wins by Josef Newgarden and Pato O’Ward. They give the latest on Newgarden, who crashed while leading Sunday, and later collapsed and was transferred to a Des Moines hospital. They discuss his standby replacement for this weekend’s race on the IMS road course, Santino Ferrucci, and what the Connecticut native could bring to Team Penske. Kevin and Curt also speculate about other drivers that could have been options to fill in. Later, they talk about O’Ward’s victory in the second race, what this weekend meant for the championship chase, and Jimmie Johnson’s strong weekend. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is the controversial finish from Indy Lights on Saturday, in which Linus Lundqvist was penalized three positions, giving the win to Hunter McElrea.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin look back on last weekend’s Toronto race, won by Scott Dixon. They discuss the Ice Man’s legendary career and longevity, after he tied Mario Andretti for second-most IndyCar wins and captured a victory for the 18th straight season. Kevin and Curt talk about the championship race, and if Dixon can win his seventh title. They talk about what to expect for Iowa, including how Chip Ganassi Racing struggled at an earlier test. They continue to talk about the ongoing Alex Palou saga, where (if anywhere) he might be driving next season, and what Felix Rosenqvist’s future holds with McLaren. Kevin and Curt pay tribute to former USAC star Bobby East, who was killed last week in California. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is the upcoming doubleheader at Iowa Speedway and the promotion that Hy-Vee put into the event. Later, they talk about the “Hate Cauldron” from the Toronto TV broadcast, and how Alexander Rossi found himself at the center of controversy once again. To wrap up, they take listener questions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin open the show by informing how to watch this weekend’s IndyCar race at Toronto on Peacock. Midway through the first segment (at 20:13), we learn that Alex Palou is leaving Chip Ganassi Racing at the end of the season and moving to McLaren. They discuss Palou’s stunning tweets that he will not be returning to CGR despite a press release earlier Tuesday stating his option had been picked up for 2023. Kevin and Curt speculate on which series Palou will be driving in next year, and who could drive the Number 10 car for Ganassi. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is Palou’s move. Kevin and Curt lay out the timeline for the defending IndyCar’s champion move from Ganassi to McLaren, and how McLaren has helped change the pay grade for top drivers. Later, they take listener questions, and talk Colton Herta’s Formula 1 test with McLaren at Portimao.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin discuss Sunday’s IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio, won by Scott McLaughlin in a battle with Alex Palou. They discuss the reliability issues for Arrow McLaren SP, with polesitter Pato O’Ward and teammate Felix Rosenqvist retiring early due to mechanical issues, and the decision by race control to wait to throw a caution. Kevin and Curt discuss the fireworks among multiple Andretti Autosport drivers, especially Romain Grosjean and Alexander Rossi, and the dumpster fire of a weekend for the team. They break down the situation involving IndyStar reporter Nathan Brown, who was asked by an Andretti PR staff member to delete a video of a heated conversation between Michael Andretti and Alexander Rossi’s father Pietr. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is the results from the Road to Indy over the weekend. Later, they talk about what’s next for Andretti, and the possibility we could see driver changes before the end of the season. Kevin and Curt take listener questions, including about closing the pits on cautions, Colton Herta’s future, the F1 race at Silverstone and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin preview IndyCar’s return to action Sunday at Mid-Ohio. They chat about recent Silly Season news and rumors, including Felix Rosenqvist returning to McLaren in 2023, either in IndyCar or Formula E. They discuss if a Chip Ganassi Racing driver could be on the move, and also talk about the swirling rumors surrounding Tatiana Calderon with sponsor Rokit falling behind on payments to A.J. Foyt Racing. They take listener questions, including about a limit for entries for non-Indy 500 races, the potential return of the Milwaukee Mile to the IndyCar schedule, and the likelihood of returning to Texas Motor Speedway next season. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is the ESPY nominations for Best Driver, including Alex Palou on the IndyCar side. Later, Kevin and Curt discuss the dramatic SRX race from Saturday night at South Boston, the controversial IMSA six-hour race at Watkins Glen, and Robert Wickens getting back into Victory Lane at Watkins Glen. Indy Lights star Benjamin Pedersen joins the show fresh off his recent IndyCar test at Sebring for Juncos Hollinger Racing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee is joined by producer Sam Rumpza to assess the IndyCar season at the halfway point. They take stock of which teams have been impressive, and which still have work to do, including a stellar first half from Marcus Ericsson and a disappointing run from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. They look back at A.J. Foyt’s final IndyCar win, which came 41 years ago Tuesday in a unique race at Pocono. Kevin discusses Jimmie Johnson’s comments on his IndyCar future, and whether he’ll be back full-time next year. Also, a mention of a possible NASCAR street race at Chicago, and whether IndyCar could be involved. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is the results from IndyCar’s test at Iowa. Later, Kevin and Curt take listener questions, including about Helio Castroneves’ win in the SRX Series at Pensacola, Florida over the weekend. LMP3 drivers Nolan Siegal and Dakota Dickerson join the show ahead of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 6 Hours of Watkins Glen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin recap Sunday’s eventful race at Road America, won by Josef Newgarden, and talk about how the Team Penske star could go on a dominating run in July. They talk about the beauty of Road America, which is one of the most fan-friendly stops on the IndyCar schedule. Kevin and Curt break down the incidents that included championship contenders Alex Palou and Will Power, and Power’s issues with Devlin DeFrancesco.  They discuss how Road America shuffled up the championship standings, how Indy’s NBC affiliate missed the start of the race, and the rising TV ratings from Road America. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway, is that vintage cars will be back at IMS this weekend for the SVRA Invitational.  Later, they take listener questions, and discuss Felix Rosenqvist’s strong run over the past few races and what that could mean for his 2023 plans, Callum Ilott’s impressive season, and Simona de Silvestro's return to an IndyCar road course after a seven-year absence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin discuss Sunday’s thrilling Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, the last on Belle Isle before a move downtown next year. They look back at the legacy of Belle Isle and some of the pros and cons with the event moving to downtown Detroit. They discuss the different strategies that went into play, including Will Power’s long stint on red tires at the end of the race as he held off Alexander Rossi, who started on reds and pitted early. They discuss Power’s mental approach and his ability to get hot, and who they think the top championship contenders are at this stage in the season. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway, is Linus Lundqvist’s complete dominance over the weekend in Indy Lights.  Later, Kevin and Curt talk Silly Season, such as Helio Castroneves’ future with Meyer Shank Racing, the confirmed moves of Kyle Kirkwood and Alexander Rossi, the potential for Alex Palou or another big name joining Arrow McLaren SP as well, and the allure of F1. The guys look ahead to scenic Road America and what to expect this weekend, and talk about the down TV ratings from both the Indy 500 and Detroit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin are back with a two-hour show to break down the Indy 500 won by Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing. They discuss how Ericsson’s victory wasn’t that much of a surprise, and how some of the top contenders had their day ruined.  Kevin and Curt talk about how Ericsson hung around all day and pulled away from Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist at the right time. They chat about the Swede’s dedication to racing, how he will represent IndyCar as the Indy 500 champion, and his future in the series. They take Twitter questions on topics such as traffic, double points, and the “Dragon” move by Ericsson at the end of the race.  In the second hour, they discuss the decision to red flag the race in the final lap, if Sunday could have been Tony Kanaan’s last Indy 500, Alexander Rossi’s admission he was responsible for the Conor Daly hot tub prank, the entertaining Victory Banquet and the record-breaking purse. Later, Ericsson’s engineer Brad Goldberg joins the show to talk about the emotions of winning the biggest race in the world and the quick turnaround heading to Detroit. We hear from the Ben Davis HS grad about his memories growing up a race fan, the relationship between driver and engineer, and his thoughts during the red flag.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee is live from the Carb Night Classic at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. He’s joined by Andretti Autosport Indy Lights driver Christian Rasmussen to discuss how his season has gone so far. Homes For Our Troops CEO Tom Landwermeyer talks with Kevin about his company, which builds homes for veterans and is sponsoring J.R. Hildebrand’s ride in Sunday’s Indy 500.  USF2000 star Michael d’Orlando joins the show to preview his race Friday night, and Indy Lights star Sting Ray Robb talks with Kevin. Jackson Lee discusses his game plan for racing at IRP and the mental challenge that goes into the quick short oval. Plus, the voice of the Road to Indy Rob Howden chats with Kevin about the up-and-coming stars of the current Road to Indy lineup.  Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is that Pato O’Ward has signed with Arrow McLaren SP through 2025. Later, Kevin recaps a wild Carb Day practice, with crashes in Turn 1 from David Malukas and Colton Herta, and takes listener questions ahead to Sunday’s Indy 500.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday night on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin preview Sunday’s Indy 500, and which drivers they think have the best chance of drinking the milk in Victory Circle. They discuss how drivers prepare mentally for the race, some of the things they learned at Thursday’s Media Day, and which drivers they expect to lead the race early. Kevin and Curt rank drivers in tiers, from the favorites through the longshots.  Later, Curt is joined by Tim May, who covered the race for the Columbus Dispatch for decades. Curt and Tim chat about Graham Rahal’s chances to win his first 500, some of the things he gathered at Thursday’s media day from Ohio-based Meyer Shank Racing, and the parity in IndyCar. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway, is the report from Jenna Fryer on the contract situation of Rinus VeeKay.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday night on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin discuss some of the favorites for Sunday's Indy 500. They talk about the race strategies they expect to unfold, and how tire wear could play more of a role in this year’s race. Kevin and Curt chat about how passing could be difficult, and that the race could look more like a road course race in terms of strategies. They discuss the wide open nature of the field, and how as many as 27 or 28 cars could be in contention for a top-7 finish.  Later, they take Twitter questions, such as contingency plans for rain on Carb Day, how much they expect teams to practice Friday, and more. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is that Gainbridge extended its contract as the presenting sponsor of the Indianapolis 500.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin give their thoughts on the new Indy 500 qualifying format, which saw a new pole-speed record. They discuss some of the surprises from qualifying, the crowd’s reaction to laps over 234 MPH, and what led to those fast laps. Kevin and Curt also break down the disappointing speeds from Team Penske as well as Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.  We talk to A.J. Foyt Racing’s J.R. Hildebrand about his Month of May, and his sponsor, Homes For Our Troops. The 2011 Indy 500 runner-up gives his thoughts on what led to higher speeds over the weekend, and what to expect in Sunday’s race. Later, USAC Sprint Car Champion Brady Bacon joins the show to talk about short track racing coming up at Circle City Raceway as well as Anderson Speedway. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is David Malsher-Lopez’s report that Alexander Rossi has signed a new contract and it will be announced in three to four weeks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin open up the show live from the Burger Bash by talking with a pair of rookies in Kyle Kirkwood and David Malukas about how they are feeling going into the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500, what their full experience has been like leading up to the race, and then share some stories on how they got to where they are at in their careers today. Marcus Ericsson and Stefan Wilson later join Curt and Kevin from the Burger Bash. They ask Marcus how he's feeling going into the big race this weekend, why the team has been so dominant in practices for the race, and the consistent improvement from race to race so far in his young career. The guys ask Stefan about the challenges of gathering some sponsors and a car at the last minute, the adversity that he could face in connection to with starting at the end of the field, and what his goal is for the upcoming race. Later, Dalton Kellett makes an appearance on Trackside from the Burger Bash to give an update on how he's feeling following the crash in practice, how the cat felt leading up to the accident, and what was going through his head in the final moments leading up to the crash. Also, James Hinchcliffe joins Curt and Kevin to explain how his schedule now is busier in comparison to when he was racing, if he still has the itch to drive, and gives his perspective on what it's like when you're about to crash into a wall. Finally, one of the fastest drivers during this month in Rinus Veekay makes an appearance at the Burger Bash with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee and joins the program to give his synopsis his car heading into the race this weekend, on racing in an Indy 500 with full crowd capacity, and how the race in Texas really helps his strategy for the Indy 500.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin discuss a windy Fast Friday and preview Indy 500 qualifying. They talk about the updated schedule for Saturday with rain in the forecast, the ever-important qualifying draw, and who got lucky with early runs. They also break down the lengthy list of drivers that could advance to Sunday’s Fast 12. Kevin and Curt talk about the impressive day for the Dale Coyne Racing duo of Takuma Sato and David Malukas.  Later, they take Twitter questions and preview Monday’s Prime 47 Burger Bash at USAC headquarters in Speedway. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is the updated qualifying schedule, which gets underway at 11 a.m. Saturday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Thursday’s Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin recap a full six hours of practice from IMS and look ahead to tomorrow’s Fast Friday practice leading into qualifying this weekend. They discuss Romain Grosjean’s interesting day, as he nearly made wall contact on multiple occasions, and talk about the windy conditions in the forecast and what kind of speeds we can expect tomorrow.  Later, they take Twitter comments, look ahead to how teams will cool engines Sunday for Fast Six qualifying, and discuss Jimmie Johnson’s busy day of practice. Later, they break down Fernando Alonso’s comments about IndyCar’s aeroscreen and how he isn’t interested in returning to the Indy 500. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway honors the Road to Indy winners from last weekend on the IMS Road Course.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Wednesday’s Indy 500 practice rained out, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin look ahead to the rest of the week leading into qualifying this weekend. They discuss the hijinks with Conor Daly’s infamous hot tub in the driver’s lot and who they think could be guilty. Kevin and Curt talk about the sense of urgency teams have with just two days of practice before qualifying. They also discuss how wind could make Fast Friday even trickier than it already will be and the expected weather through the weekend.  Later, they take Twitter questions, and talk about Mark Miles saying IndyCar will likely not have any new venues on the 2023 schedule. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is that A.J. Foyt Racing will test a few new drivers on the IMS Road Course for next season, including Benjamin Pedersen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin discuss the first day of Indy 500 practice out at 16th and Georgetown. They talk about a clean and green first day of preparations for the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500, and the impressive day from Chip Ganassi Racing, with all four drivers ending the day in the top six on the speed chart. They give kudos to Stefan Wilson’s Cusick Motorsports/DragonSpeed/Foyt team for getting the car ready to run today and showing pace.  Later, they talk about a few reports of an IMSA race potentially coming to IMS in 2023, as well as the fact that F1 will likely not be racing at IMS anytime soon. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway, is that Ryan Hunter-Reay has signed with Chip Ganassi Racing to help develop their sports car program.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin recap Saturday’s GMR Grand Prix, won in the wet by Colton Herta. They discuss the brilliant strategy move from Bryan and Colton Herta to switch to slick tires early in the race, which propelled him from 14th to the lead. Kevin and Curt talk about the chaotic race, with multiple tire strategies and suspect conditions, and list all the drivers that could have ended up in the top five.  Later, they discuss how the aeroscreen held up in the rain for the first time in race conditions, what the drivers had to say about the conditions, and what can be improved for the future. Kevin and Curt also give information about the Prime 47 Burger Bash next Monday, and some of the exciting items that are up for auction. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway, is the Indy 500 practice schedule for Tuesday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin recap qualifications from today for the GMR Grand Prix, discuss how very little time separates driver from the front of the field to the middle of the field, if he has heard anything from the drivers on how they are preparing for the possibility of rain for the race tomorrow afternoon, and which drivers could benefit from the weather conditions. Kevin and Curt also elaborate on how much it means to Will Power to be P1 for tomorrow’s race, how significant it was for particular drivers to qualify in the positions that they will start in tomorrow’s race, recap the Indy Lights win that happened this afternoon, and answer some Twitter questions that Kevin received throughout the day!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin preview this weekend’s GMR Grand Prix, and discuss a street inside IMS being re-named Castroneves Drive. They speculate on whether or not Helio will be back full-time in IndyCar next season, and talk about whether the Grand Prix can give a driver momentum heading into the Indy 500.   Kevin and Curt talk with Indy 500 winners Juan Pablo Montoya and Simon Pagenaud. We hear from Juan about the difficulty driving part-time and starting his IndyCar season at the IMS Road Course, how his son’s racing career is progressing. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway comes from Roger Penske talking to Dave Calabro of WTHR about his long-held desire to buy IMS and the long-term plans for the track and series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin turn the focus to this weekend’s GMR Grand Prix on the IMS Road Course. They talk about historic trends since the race’s inception in 2014, and discuss the possibility of rain Saturday. They also break down the significance of the Month of May to the season-long points title in both IndyCar and Indy Lights.  Kevin and Curt discuss the lengthy list of drivers they believe can win the Indy 500, including the chances for Juan Pablo Montoya. They take listener questions, such as Homestead potentially re-joining the IndyCar schedule. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway comes from Rinus VeeKay, who talked Wednesday about his contract situation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin discuss the news that Sarah Fisher will drive the pace car for the Indianapolis 500 in a 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06. They talk about the history of celebrity pace car drivers as well as race car drivers pacing the field. Kevin and Curt take listener questions, including one about recent news that Carvana is undergoing employee layoffs, and what potential impact that could have on Jimmie Johnson’s sponsorship.  Indy Lights championship leader Linus Lundqvist joins the show to talk about his season so far, including his thrilling win in the wet conditions at Barber Motorsports Park. We also hear about his upbringing, what he expects this weekend on the IMS road course, and his hopes to join the IndyCar paddock. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is the impressive F1 TV ratings from the Miami GP.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin recap the F1 Miami GP, which was attended by nearly half of the IndyCar paddock. Kevin and Curt discuss the spectacle around Hard Rock Stadium, what was done well, some of the issues from the first event, and whether they think the Miami race has staying power with a Las Vegas GP coming next year. They talk about Michael Andretti’s efforts to join the F1 paddock as he talked to team principals over the weekend, and discuss the criticism of Indy 500 coverage from the Liberty Media CEO.  Later in the show, Kevin and Curt break down the newest Silly Season news and rumors, including Alexander Rossi confirming to the IndyStar that his 2023 destination has been finalized. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway, is the livery reveal for J.R. Hildebrand’s red, white and blue car with A.J. Foyt Racing and ABC Supply. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To wrap up the week on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin look back on the infamous ending to the 2011 Indy 500, and they remember the legendary Dan Wheldon. They talk about this weekend’s Formula 1 race in Miami, how that event can help IndyCar, and the latest on Michael Andretti’s potential expansion into F1. Kevin and Curt speculate on potential landing spots for Rinus VeeKay after the season, and whether or not he could end up back with Ed Carpenter Racing.   Stefan Wilson is the 33rd and final entry into the Indy 500, and Wilson calls in to talk about how the entry with Dragon Speed, Don Cusick and A.J. Foyt Racing came together. We hear about some of the difficulties in getting the effort together, what he hopes the program can turn into, and the excitement level for this year’s 500. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is that Liberty Media is purchasing land in Las Vegas for next year’s F1 race in Sin City. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday on Trackside, the Indy 500 entry list is finally at 33, and Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin talk about how the Don Cusick/Dragon Speed entry with Stefan Wilson came together, and how Jay Frye and Larry Foyt played a key role in filling the field. They discuss the recent article by Jeff Gluck in The Athletic about Sage Karam’s mental health struggles following his IndyCar accident at Pocono in 2015, and Karam’s upcoming return to Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Former NASCAR champion crew chief Ray Evernham joins the show to talk about the upcoming Mecum auction at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. We hear from Evernham about Jimmie Johnson’s transition to IndyCar, and some of the cars in his collection, such as Mario Andretti’s Brawner Hawk from 1965.  Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is that Formula 1 is back in the United States this week for the Miami Grand Prix, including comments from Bernie Eccelstone. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Wednesday’s Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin talk about the festivities surrounding May in Indianapolis. They discuss Nathan Brown’s report in the IndyStar that rookie Kyle Kirkwood plans to make his way to Andretti Autosport next year to presumably replace Alexander Rossi. They break down what ripple effects that move may have. Kevin and Curt mention that FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem visited Roger Penske at IMS Tuesday, and what that could mean for the Speedway, such as an IMSA or WEC race.  They’re joined by Darren Jack from the Racing Hall of Fame Collection to give details on what you can bid on at the upcoming Prime 47 Burger Bash, coming up May 23rd. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is NBC’s announcement of the broadcast team for the Indy 500, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick, and of course, Kevin Lee!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday night on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin tie up some loose ends from the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, including how the day went for Alexander Rossi and Colton Herta, and the disappointing weekend from Meyer Shank Racing. They discuss the future of Felix Rosenqvist at Arrow McLaren SP.   They’re joined by Graham Rahal to discuss his on-track run-in with Romain Grosjean, and the growing frustration among the paddock with the former F1 mainstay. We hear from Graham about his hopes heading to IMS, and an exciting charity announcement.  Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway, is a pair of exciting wins in the Road to Indy from Myles Rowe as well as Jagger Jones, son of P.J. and grandson of Parnelli, plus a thrilling Indy Lights battle between Linus Lundqvist and Benjamin Pedersen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday night on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin return for nightly shows in the Month of May! They discuss the exciting IndyCar race at Barber Motorsports Park, won by Pato O’Ward, with Alex Palou and Rinus VeeKay rounding out the podium. Kevin and Curt break down how the race was won, the different pit stop strategies, and how the championship standings are shaking out four races in. They talk about O’Ward’s turn around after his “war with his team,” and his contract situation.  Our News of the Day brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is that Alex Palou is back in the lead of the championship standings heading to the GMR Grand Prix. Later, Curt and Kevin discuss the conflict between Graham Rahal and Romain Grosjean, and give the latest on the 33rd entry for the Indy 500. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin look ahead to this week’s IndyCar race at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. They break down Silly Season rumors that are in full swing, and look back on last week’s open test at IMS. In addition, they discuss the new qualification format for the Indy 500, which features two rounds on Sunday to set the first four rows of three, including the Firestone Fast Six to set the pole. Curt and Kevin break down some of the positives and negatives of the new format. Our News of the Day brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is IndyCar’s new environmental initiatives, including “green” tires, which will debut at Nashville later this year. Later in the show, they break down Silly Season news, including a report from the IndyStar that Pato O’Ward is expected to sign a contract extension with Arrow McLaren SP, and that Alexander Rossi may join Pato with the team.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin preview this week’s 32-car open test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They look ahead to some of the storylines over the next couple of days, including Indy 500 rookies Romain Grosjean and Jimmie Johnson, new liveries, and how some part-time entries will fill out their staff. They discuss Paretta Autosport’s partnership with Ed Carpenter Racing for three road course races later this season with Simona de Silvestro driving.  They give their latest educated guesses on who the 33rd and potentially a 34th entry for the Indy 500 will be, including the potential for Juncos-Hollinger Racing to field a second car. The Trackside News of the Week brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway is that Josef Newgarden and his wife Ashley welcomed their first child, Kota, to the world.  Later in the show, the guys take listener questions, and unveil the return of The Prime 47 Burger Bash, which will take place Monday, May 23rd from 6-8:30 pm at the USAC headquarters and will benefit the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.  (https://jacksonleeracing.com/return-of-the-burger-bash-more-in-may/). To wrap up, Kevin and Curt discuss the latest silly season rumors, including a Jenna Fryer report that Alexander Rossi may have signed with Arrow McLaren SP for 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.