Firestone Freedom 100

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Freedom 100
Venue Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Corporate sponsor Firestone
First race 2003
First IndyCar race 2003
Distance 100 miles
Number of laps 40
Previous names Freedom 100 (2003)
Futaba Freedom 100 (2004-2005)
Freedom 100 (2006-2007)

The Firestone Freedom 100 is a Firestone Indy Lights Series auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is currently held the Friday before the Indianapolis 500. It is the biggest race for the Indy Lights Series and has much higher participation than many of the series' other races.

The race also holds a similar time trial to that of the Indy 500 in which qualifying times are determined by an average of two laps.

For the first two years, the race was held during the second weekend of Indianapolis 500 Time Trials, scheduled for Saturday, which was, at the time, used only for Indy 500 practice. The date proved to be unpopular and saw small crowds. In 2005, Carb Day, the final day of practice for the Indy 500, was moved from Thursday before the Indy 500 to Friday. Series officials moved the Freedom 100 to Carb Day, immediately following the Indy 500 practice session. The move proved popular with fans and competitors.

In 2008, in the wake of the merger between IRL and Champ Car, the series was renamed from Indy Pro Series to the Firestone Indy Lights Series. The new sponsorship extended to this race, renaming it the Firestone Freedom 100.[1]

Contents

[edit] Race History

Year Day Date Pole Sitter Winning Driver
2003 Sat.-Sun. May 17-181 Flag of the United States Ed Carpenter Flag of the United States Ed Carpenter
2004 Saturday May 22 Flag of Brazil Thiago Medeiros Flag of Brazil Thiago Medeiros
2005 Friday May 27 Flag of Brazil Jaime Camara Flag of Brazil Jaime Camara
2006 Friday May 26 Flag of New Zealand Wade Cunningham Flag of New Zealand Wade Cunningham
2007 Friday May 25 Flag of Canada Ken Losch Flag of the United Kingdom Alex Lloyd
2008 Saturday May 242 Flag of the United Kingdom Dillon Battistini Flag of the United Kingdom Dillon Battistini
1In 2003 the race started on Saturday May 17, but was halted by rain. It was completed the following day.
2The 2008 race was scheduled for Friday May 23 but postponed one day due to rain.

[edit] Event Records

Fastest Date Driver Time Speed (mph) Laps/Miles
Race May 26, 2006 Flag of New Zealand Wade Cunningham 32:29.3233 184.679 40/100
Qualifying Lap May 21, 2004 Flag of Brazil Thiago Medeiros 47.4913 189.508 1/2.5
Race Lap May 24, 2008 Flag of the United States Bobby Wilson 47.0189 191.412 1/2.5

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Firestone Freedom 100 To Feature Firestone Indy Lights May 23 At IMS", name, 2008-03-26. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.