UPDATED (6:33 p.m.): IndyCar officials have decided to forego qualifying tonight due to rain, per a tweet from the series.
As a result, the starting grid for Saturday’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at Gateway Motorsports Park will be set by entrant points in the Verizon IndyCar Series point standings.
That means series points leader Scott Dixon will start Saturday’s race from the pole, with No. 2 in the points, Alexander Rossi, on the outside pole.
However, IndyCar officials are still hoping to get in one other practice session tonight if the weather breaks. As such, what was originally scheduled to be a one-hour practice session from 9 to 10 p.m. ET is now scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. ET and go to 10 p.m. ET.
UPDATE (2:40 p.m. ET): Track drying continues at Gateway Motorsports Park, east of St. Louis, after rain delayed the first IndyCar practice this afternoon.
According to an update from IndyCar, the first practice will now be held from 4 to 5 p.m. ET, qualifying will take place 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET and the second and final practice will take place from 9 to 10 p.m. ET.
However, rain is in the forecast for the area, particularly early this evening. We’ll keep you up to date on any weather-related changes, if necessary.
ORIGINAL STORY
Friday has started out in a soggy fashion at Gateway Motorsports Park, just east of St. Louis.
The opening practice for the Verizon IndyCar Series, slated to begin at 1:15 p.m. ET, has been delayed due to rain.
However, efforts to dry the track have begun, according to IndyCar officials.
Qualifying for Saturday’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 is scheduled later this afternoon at 5:15 p.m. ET, while the second and final practice session of the weekend is slated to go off at 9 p.m. ET.
We’ll keep you up to date on the latest developments. Please check back regularly.