IndyCar drivers are preparing for what could be the hottest Indy 500 on record, with temperatures of 95 degrees forecast for today's race.
Currently, the warmest Indy 500 in history was in 1937, when Wilbur Shaw withstood 93 degrees to take his victory, however reigning series champion Dario Franchitti believes that the conditions will pose more of a problem for the crews than the drivers.
"The forecast is in the mid-90s" said the Ganassi driver. "We've been looking at that for weeks, so we've known what we're setting up for. It's definitely going to be slippery, but it will be the same for everybody out there in those conditions. It will be hard for the pit crews, who have to keep their focus in that heat. We drivers have the advantage of 220mph air conditioning, and they don't."
The temperature at the circuit was in the high 80s at 9 a.m. local time, three hours before the scheduled start.