Yahoo Autos Aug. 21-23 Weekend Racing TV Blowout: The Greatest Spectacle in Racing is Finally Here
Nothing like the feel of a Memorial Day weekend Sunday in August. Do you think the boss will give us Monday off?
The Indianapolis 500 takes center stage (finally) to highlight a packed weekend of racing on TV.
Here's what, why and where to watch the action:
The Indianapolis 500
What: The 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 (Sun.)
Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Why it is a Must-See: You have to ask? This year's 500 will be unlike any of the other 103 editions of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. There will be no fans in the stands, plenty of face masks in the pits, and an Andretti (Marco) on the pole. This will be the one year you don't have to be jealous of your buddy who got tickets to the race.
What to Watch:
• Marco Andretti is the first Andretti on the pole for the 500 since grandpa Mario n 1987. He's also be tying to become the first Andretti to win the race since Mario in 1969.
• Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso is making his second, and quite possibly final, start in the 500. Alonso starts 26th, in the middle of Row 9. Having previously won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the F1 Monaco Grand Prix, Alonso is trying to become just the second driver (Graham Hill) to win the Triple Crown. Alonso, 39, is returning to F1 in 2021 and says his schedule won't allow a return to Indianapolis until at least until 2023.
• Helio Castroneves, 45, is making his 20th start in the 500 and taking his 11th shot at a fourth victory in the 500. A win would move him into the four-win class that includes just Rick Mears, A.J. Foyt and Al Unser. Mears is the last person to join the club, and he did it with his fourth win in 1991. Unser was the oldest driver to win his fourth, wining his fourth in 1987 just five days before his 48th birthday.
• Roger Penske, who just happens to now own the Speedway and the NTT IndyCar Series, is going for his 19th Indianapolis 500 win. Team Penske's Josef Newgarden, who starts 13th, was the quickest Penske car in qualifying. Newgarden is seeking his first Indy 500 win. He's the only Team Penske driver in the field (Will Power, Simon Pagenaud, Castroneves) without a BorgWarner in the trophy case.
Were to Find the Action:
FRIDAY, AUG. 21
Indy 500 Final Practice, Indianapolis; 11 a.m., NBCSN (L)
SUNDAY, AUG. 23
Indianapolis 500 Pre-Race Show, 1 p.m., NBC (L)
Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis, 2:30 p.m., NBC (L)
NASCAR
What: NASCAR Cup (Sat., Sun.), NASCAR Xfinity (Sat., Sun), NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoor Truck Series (Fri.)
Where: Dover, Del.
Why it is a Must-See: There's only three races left until the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Playoffs and just two races left until the Truck Series Playoffs. Every race means something. Plus, the Monster Mile offers up the coolest trophies in racing.
What to Watch:
• Kevin Harvick will pass Rusty Wallace and move into 16th place in all-time NASCAR Cup Series starts. He’ll tie Wallace at 705 on Saturday, then add start No. 706 on Sunday. A would move him past Wallace and into a tie for ninth all-time with Kyle Busch at 56 career wins. Harvick leads the driver standings by 118 points over Denny Hamlin. Harvick leads all Cup drivers with six wins in 2020.
• Austin Cindric is the hottest driver in all of NASCAR, having won five of the last six NASCAR Xfinity Series races. The run have lifted the Ford driver from fourth in the standings (61 points behind leader Chase Briscoe after Indianapolis) to first, where he holds a 48-point lead over Briscoe. Cindric He joins NASCAR Hall of Famer Sam Ard as the only two drivers to ever win 5-of-6 series events.
Were to Find the Action:
FRIDAY, AUG. 21
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series KDI Office Technology 200, Dover, Del.; 5 p.m., FS1 (L)
SATURDAY, AUG. 22
NASCAR Xfinity Series Drydene 200 Race 1, Dover, Del.; 12:30 p.m., NBCSN (L)
NASCAR Cup Series Drydene 311 Race 1, Dover, Del.; 4 p.m., NBCSN (L)
SUNDAY, AUG. 23
