How does the weather impact open wheel racing and how have the elements impacted previous races? Find out what’s in store for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 this Sunday, May 29th.
Weather’s Impact on Open Wheel Racing:
Similar to stock car and other closed wheel racing, weather can have a major impact on open wheel racing. Rain can impact open wheel racing just as much as it can stock cars with the difference being that most open wheel tracks are road courses, and speeds are not as quick, therefore special tires can be employed to increase traction in wet conditions. The Indianapolis 500 (an oval track/almost a rectangular shape) is an exception however; with open wheel car speeds of up to 230 mph during green flag conditions, Indy cars cannot race in any kind of wet track conditions on oval tracks. Wind has a greater impact on open wheel race cars, especially due to their weight. An open wheel car weighs approximately 1,500 pounds, half the weight of a stock car at about 3,400 pounds. Since open wheel cars are so light, their design has been improved over the years to allow for more control and wind resistance when traveling at such high rates of speed.
Past Indy 500 Weather:
In its previous 99 races, the Indy 500 has only been rain delayed 10 times. Seven times the race was shortened and 3 times it had to be finished on a different day. An event record of 3.8 inches of rain fell on race day in 2004 due to severe thunderstorms in the area. This led to the race being shortened by 20 laps, but this was a good decision as confirmed by the National Weather Service after an EF2 tornado had formed from those storms and missed the speedway by a mere 6 miles, resulting in widespread damage just south of the track. This year, expect temperatures to be slightly above average for the race. With a summer like pattern in place, there is a chance of an isolated thunderstorm in the afternoon hours.
Average High: 77°F
Average Low: 57°F
Average Wind: South @ 9 mph
Top Performances for the Weather on Race Day
*Courtesy of the National Weather Service Indianapolis
Warmest Max Temp: 92°F (1937)
Warmest Min Temp: 73°F (1929)
Warmest Avg. Temp: 82°F (1937)
Coldest Max Temp: 58°F (1992)
Coldest Min Temp: 37°F (1947)
Coldest Avg. Temp: 50°F (1947)
Highest Precip: 3.8 inches (2004)
Highest Wind Speed: 18 mph (1995)
For up to date and hour by hour forecasts, check out the MORECAST weather app, now available in the app store! Check back here as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages for any updates.