Belgium News Race (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) Aug 27-29, 2021

THURSDAY 26 AUGUST 2021

06:43 SUNRISE
09:00 12:00 FORMULA 1 TRACK TEAM TRACK WALKS
11:30 12:00 PROMOTER ACTIVITY ONLINE MEETING SECURITY BRIEFING
13:00 14:00 FORMULA 1 ONLINE MEETING TEAM MANAGERS' MEETING
13:00 15:00 FORMULA 1 TRACK TRACK CLOSED , FIA/F1 SYSTEMS CHECKS, TRACK RESTRICTED TO FIA/F1 ONLY
13:30 17:00 FORMULA 1 PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM PRESS CONFERENCE
13:45 14:00 FIA TRACK TRACK INSPECTION - TRACK COMPLETELY CLEAR
14:00 15:00 FIA TRACK HIGH SPEED TRACK TEST - FIA SAFETY & MEDICAL CARS
17:00 17:30 FIA FORMULA 3 ONLINE MEETING TEAM MANAGERS' & DRIVERS' MEETING
20:30 SUNSET
23:30 TEAM CURFEW STARTS

FRIDAY 27 AUGUST 2021

06:45 SUNRISE
08:30 TEAM CURFEW ENDS
09:00 NOISE RESTRICTION ENDS
09:00 09:15 FIA TRACK TRACK & MEDICAL INSPECTION & SAFETY CAR TEST
09:35 09:55 PROMOTER ACTIVITY TRACK HISTORIC F1 DEMO
10:05 10:50 FIA FORMULA 3 TRACK PRACTICE SESSION
11:00 11:15 FIA TRACK TRACK INSPECTION & F1 STEWARDS' FAMILIARISATION
11:30 12:30 FORMULA 1 TRACK FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
12:55 13:25 W SERIES TRACK PRACTICE SESSION
13:00 14:00 FORMULA 1 PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM PRESS CONFERENCE
13:50 14:20 FIA FORMULA 3 TRACK QUALIFYING SESSION
14:00 14:30 PORSCHE MOBIL 1 SUPERCUP ONLINE MEETING DRIVERS' MEETING
14:30 14:40 FIA TRACK TRACK INSPECTION
15:00 16:00 FORMULA 1 TRACK SECOND PRACTICE SESSION
16:05 16:35 FIA FORMULA 3 PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM PRESS CONFERENCE
16:30 17:00 W SERIES TRACK QUALIFYING SESSION
17:25 18:10 PORSCHE MOBIL 1 SUPERCUP TRACK PRACTICE SESSION
17:30 18:30 FORMULA 1 ONLINE MEETING DRIVERS' MEETING
18:15 18:35 PROMOTER ACTIVITY TRACK HISTORIC F1 DEMO
18:55 TRACK OPEN TO F1 PASS HOLDERS
20:28 SUNSET
22:00 NOISE RESTRICTION STARTS
23:30 TEAM CURFEW STARTS

SATURDAY 28 AUGUST 2021

06:46 SUNRISE
09:00 TEAM CURFEW ENDS
09:00 NOISE RESTRICTION ENDS
09:20 09:40 FORMULA 1 PIT LANE TEAM PIT STOP PRACTICE
09:55 10:10 FIA TRACK TRACK & MEDICAL INSPECTION & SAFETY CAR TEST
10:10 10:15 FIA FORMULA 3 PIT LANE PIT LANE OPEN
10:35 11:20 FIA FORMULA 3 TRACK FIRST RACE (17 LAPS OR 40 MINS)
11:30 11:40 FIA TRACK TRACK INSPECTION
11:40 12:00 FIA FORMULA 3 PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM PRESS CONFERENCE
12:00 13:00 FORMULA 1 TRACK THIRD PRACTICE SESSION
13:10 13:30 PROMOTER ACTIVITY TRACK HISTORIC F1 DEMO
13:45 14:15 PORSCHE MOBIL 1 SUPERCUP TRACK QUALIFYING SESSION
14:30 14:40 FIA TRACK TRACK INSPECTION
15:00 16:00 FORMULA 1 TRACK QUALIFYING SESSION
16:00 17:00 FORMULA 1 PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM PRESS CONFERENCE
16:30 17:05 W SERIES TRACK RACE (***LAPS OR 30 MINS)
17:15 17:20 FIA FORMULA 3 PIT LANE PIT LANE OPEN
17:30 18:15 FIA FORMULA 3 TRACK SECOND RACE (17 LAPS OR 40 MINS)
18:35 TRACK OPEN TO F1 PASS HOLDERS
18:35 18:55 FIA FORMULA 3 PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM PRESS CONFERENCE
20:26 SUNSET
22:00 NOISE RESTRICTION STARTS

SUNDAY 29 AUGUST 2021

06:48 SUNRISE
09:00 NOISE RESTRICTION ENDS
10:00 F1 CAR COVER SEALS REMOVED
10:20 10:35 FIA TRACK TRACK & MEDICAL INSPECTION & SAFETY CAR TEST
10:45 10:50 FIA FORMULA 3 PIT LANE PIT LANE OPEN
11:00 11:45 FIA FORMULA 3 TRACK THIRD RACE (17 LAPS OR 40 MINS)
12:10 12:45 PORSCHE MOBIL 1 SUPERCUP TRACK RACE (11 LAPS OR 30 MINS)
12:50 13:20 FIA FORMULA 3 PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM PRESS CONFERENCE
13:10 13:50 FORMULA 1 PIT LANE DRIVERS PRESENTATION
14:00 14:10 FIA TRACK TRACK & MEDICAL INSPECTION
14:02 14:30 FORMULA 1 PIT LANE PIT LANE OPEN
14:43 14:44 FORMULA 1 TRACK 'WE RACE AS ONE' GESTURE
14:44 14:46 FORMULA 1 TRACK NATIONAL ANTHEM
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX (44 LAPS OR 120 MINS)
8:23 PM SUNSET

Honestly, what is there even to say!
Everyone knows the deal—Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an absolute legend, and since '83, it’s been one of those Formula 1 weekends I just can't wait for.
I've made it out there live seven times so far—five times for Formula 1 (back in 2012-2015 and 2019) and twice for IMSA (2015 and 2019).

Back in 2015 for the Daytona 24 Hours, I actually had an official Pass as a Freelancer—I applied myself and the FIA IMSA folks approved it. Then in 2019, Veljko Jukič (some might remember him as a photojournalist for that Canadian Car and Driver outfit) helped me secure my accreditation as a Photographer for the Formula 1 race.
This Thursday, I'm heading back out there again as a Photographer for Formula 1. I only just got my accreditation today, so it's all coming together at the last minute—is that how you're supposed to say it?
I won't drone on too long, since there isn't much new to say about Indy, but here are some shots from my previous trips.

To start things off, here's a shot from 2012 when we headed to the track on Thursday and were waiting for the drivers... then Sebastian Vettel rolled by, and naturally, I couldn't pass up the chance to grab a photo with him.



Big shoutout to TiBieFu1... man, what a ride!

swiftmaker12 said:Starting things off with this shot from 2012. We rolled onto the track on a Thursday just waiting for the drivers to show up... then Sebastian Vettel breezes by and, naturally, I jumped at the chance to grab a photo with him.



Big shoutout to TiBieFu1... someone's gotta pay for this!

Now I’m actually jealous. 😳
Give me a break!
How on earth did Sebastian Vettel meet Šilja before he met me? 😲

I’m expecting big things from Mercedes-Benz, especially after seeing how much pace they had at the Circuit of the Americas. They seemed to really find their rhythm whenever the track opened up a bit.
I'm actually hoping for some rain, by the way. 😁

I’m just hoping this race finally goes down without any nonsense—mostly looking at you, Mercedes and their drivers—and that whoever actually deserves it takes the win.
Btw, here's the schedule for the weekend.

swiftmaker12 said:

Look, we're here for the girls, not the guys' backsides.

ruggedhawk20 said:We're here to see women's assets, not men's butts.

Looks like they went after Joža too.

ruggedhawk20 said:We're here to see women's curves, not guys' backsides.

What's your problem with men's butts? You've got one too.

ruggedhawk20 said:Look, we're here for the girls, not some guy's backside.

Man, just show me those beauties from Brazil already.

Is anyone even watching the Free Practice sessions?



Watch your step. Keep those cards tucked away.
Mercedes is tinkering with things. Lewis Hamilton ran with more downforce on the rear wing—looks like they’re testing a setup for rain. He was a bit slower through Sector 1, but managed to outpace Valtteri Bottas in S2. This should be interesting to watch.

It’s actually pretty interesting watching Kim Raikkonen lately. Is the guy just determined to keep embarrassing himself?

Raymond Anderson4 said:I'm hoping for some rain, by the way. 😁

One silver lining with all this rain? There's no DRS.
The downside to rain? It opens the door for someone like Esteban Ocon to actually pull off a win.

Free Practice 2 was much like Free Practice 1; despite a bit of sun peeking through, it’s still pretty overcast.
More dry than wet, yet interestingly, the driver who set the fastest time (Lando Norris) opted for intermediates first before switching over to hard slicks.

So, the only casualty of Free Practice 2 is that driver everyone’s been debating—the one some call the future of the sport, while others just see him as a pushover.

EDIT — well, there goes Max. He fell apart with just 2:30 left on the clock.
Red flag. Free Practice 2 is over.

Way to go, Max... as if those engine issues weren't enough trouble already...

Jason Campbell70 said:It’s actually pretty entertaining watching Kim Raikkonen; the guy just keeps embarrassing himself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74fdcs0KIzE

And that wasn't even his only blunder:


Rough.

ruggedhawk20 said:Look, we’re here for the girls—not some dude's backside.

Unknown

Jason Campbell70 said:And that certainly wasn't his only blunder:

Rough stuff...

Yeah, he really left himself hanging there... whereas Charles Leclerc and Max haven't... 🙂