By Doug Schneider
Good news - the forecast for Indy 500 qualifying is trending toward drier conditions and more sunshine.
Practice on Thursday continues to look great, with sunny skies, a high temperature near 70 degrees, and a northeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
The low pressure system that I've been watching for the potential for rain late Friday and Saturday morning is projected to take a track that is farther south than previously shown by the models. This means that Indianapolis will be located on the northern fringes of the area of rain associated with it. In fact, the rain could miss the Speedway entirely. I am lowering my chance of rain down to just 20%, and even that small chance may not come until after 6 pm, after practice ends. I think the odds of a completely dry practice session on Friday are looking good.
Any rain that may fall on Friday night will be light, with only a few hundredths of an inch, if anything, and it will be gone by sunrise Saturday morning. After some morning clouds, there will be ample sunshine through the afternoon, but the biggest weather story on Saturday could be the wind. It will be coming from the north at 10 to 15 mph for most of the day, which will create a tailwind on the frontstretch, a headwind on the backstretch, and a crosswind in the short chutes. This could add an interesting twist to qualifying.
Sunday looks absolutely perfect, with sunshine all day and temperatures reaching the mid 70s. Winds will still be from the north, but lighter at 5 to 10 mph.
Practice on Thursday continues to look great, with sunny skies, a high temperature near 70 degrees, and a northeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
The low pressure system that I've been watching for the potential for rain late Friday and Saturday morning is projected to take a track that is farther south than previously shown by the models. This means that Indianapolis will be located on the northern fringes of the area of rain associated with it. In fact, the rain could miss the Speedway entirely. I am lowering my chance of rain down to just 20%, and even that small chance may not come until after 6 pm, after practice ends. I think the odds of a completely dry practice session on Friday are looking good.
Any rain that may fall on Friday night will be light, with only a few hundredths of an inch, if anything, and it will be gone by sunrise Saturday morning. After some morning clouds, there will be ample sunshine through the afternoon, but the biggest weather story on Saturday could be the wind. It will be coming from the north at 10 to 15 mph for most of the day, which will create a tailwind on the frontstretch, a headwind on the backstretch, and a crosswind in the short chutes. This could add an interesting twist to qualifying.
Sunday looks absolutely perfect, with sunshine all day and temperatures reaching the mid 70s. Winds will still be from the north, but lighter at 5 to 10 mph.
