Freedom 100

Freedom 100
Indy Lights
Venue Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Corporate sponsor Mazda
First race 2003
Distance 100 miles (160 km)
Laps 40
Previous names Firestone Freedom 100 (2008–2013)
Futaba Freedom 100 (2004–2005)
Most wins (driver) Wade Cunningham (3)
Most wins (team) Sam Schmidt Motorsports (7)

The Freedom 100 is an automobile race held annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, as part of the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires. The event is a support race for the IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500, and since 2005, it has been held on the Friday preceding the Indianapolis 500, the day known as "Carb Day".

The Freedom 100 is the second race annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the other being the Grand Prix on the combined road course.

Race history

The Freedom 100 has its origins in both USAC's Mini Indy series and CART's ARS/Indy Lights series. None of those support series ever raced at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Typically the support series would take the month of May off while the top-level Indy cars were at the Indianapolis 500. In 1979, USAC's Mini-Indy series scheduled a support race on the oval at nearby Indianapolis Raceway Park, but it was held only once.[1]

When the IRL started the Indy Pro Series in 2002, officials began exploring the possibility of holding a support race at Indianapolis in the days leading up to the Indianapolis 500. It was an attempt to fill an otherwise slow part of the month, and an opportunity for exposure for up-and-coming drivers and teams. The race was added to the calendar for 2003.

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 drew small crowds. In 2005, Carb Day, the traditional 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 final 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, taking the name of Champ Car's former development series which had ceased in 2001. The new sponsorship extended to this race, renaming it the Firestone Freedom 100.[2]

In the first nine runnings, the race was won six times from the pole and three times from second starting position. Therefore, the race had always been won from the front row until Esteban Guerrieri won in 2012 from the 18th starting position.[3] In 2013, Peter Dempsey, who started third, won the Freedom 100 in what was then the closest finish in Speedway history (0.0026 secs) in a four-wide finish over Gabby Chaves, Sage Karam, and Carlos Muñoz. Dempsey went from fourth to first on the final straightaway.[4]

In 2016, the field lined up in order of points, as qualifying has been rained out. Pole sitter and series point leader, Carlin's Ed Jones, traded the lead with Andretti Autosport's Dean Stoneman until a caution on lap 36 slowed the field. The green flag flew with one lap to go and Stoneman pulled alongside Jones going into Turn Three. The pair held their positions through the North Short Chute and into Turn Four; as they crossed the line, Stoneman held the lead by the slimmest possible margin, winning by 0.0024 seconds - a new Indianapolis Motor Speedway Record.[5] Carlin's Matheus Leist took the race victory from pole position in 2017.

Race results

Year Date Day Winning Driver Race Distance Time of Race Winning Speed Starting
Cars
Lead
Changes
Miles Laps
2003 May 17–18 a Sat.–Sun. United States Ed Carpenter 100 40 55:02.1661 109.019 mph 19 2
2004 May 22 Saturday Brazil Thiago Medeiros 100 40 42:16.4388 141.931 mph 17 2
2005 May 27 Friday Brazil Jaime Camara 100 40 40:52.6390 146.780 mph 18 7
2006 May 26 Friday New Zealand Wade Cunningham 100 40 32:29.3233 184.679 mph 19 0
2007 May 25 Friday United Kingdom Alex Lloyd 100 40 46:39.6029 128.590 mph 24 0
2008 May 24 b Saturday United Kingdom Dillon Battistini 100 40 39:46.9495 150.820 mph 27 4
2009 May 22 Friday New Zealand Wade Cunningham 100 40 50:42.2548 118.333 mph 22 9
2010 May 28 Friday New Zealand Wade Cunningham 100 40 39:55.4552 150.285 mph 16 4
2011 May 27 Friday United States Josef Newgarden 100 40 55:38.9881 107.817 mph 18 6
2012 May 25 Friday Argentina Esteban Guerrieri 100 40 40:09.1965 149.427 mph 19 c 3
2013 May 24 Friday Republic of Ireland Peter Dempsey 100 40 36:48.6540 162.995 mph 11 2
2014 May 23 Friday Colombia Gabby Chaves 100 40 41:46.9680 143.600 mph 11 9
2015 May 22 Friday United Kingdom Jack Harvey 100 40 33:21.2712 179.886 mph 11 6
2016 May 27 Friday United Kingdom Dean Stoneman 100 40 41:08.6299 145.830 mph 16 3
2017 May 26 Friday Brazil Matheus Leist 100 40 36:36.6934 163.883 mph 14 0
2018 May 25 Friday United States Colton Herta 100 40 31:20.6650 191.422 mph 8 20
a In 2003 the race started on Saturday May 17, but was halted by rain. It was completed the following day.
b The 2008 race was scheduled for Friday May 23 but postponed one day due to rain.
c In 2012, Anders Krohn qualified for the race, but was unable to start due to mechanical problems. He was credited with the 19th-place finish. Therefore, only 18 cars took the green flag.

Qualification results

Year Date Day Pole Sitter /
Fast Qualifier
Pole 2-Lap
Qualifying Time
Pole Speed Number of
Qualifiers
Slow Qualifier
Speed
Mean Qualifying
Speed
2003 May 16 Friday United States Ed Carpenter 1:35.4958 188.490 mph 18 179.550 mph 184.460 mph
2004 May 21 Friday Brazil Thiago Medeiros 1:35.1000 189.274 mph 17 178.100 mph 186.302 mph
2005 May 26 Thursday Brazil Jaime Camara 1:34.8018 189.870 mph 17 168.816 mph 184.892 mph
2006 May 25 Thursday New Zealand Wade Cunningham 1:36.5546 186.423 mph 18 171.844 mph 181.753 mph
2007 May 24 Thursday Canada Ken Losch 1:35.6271 188.231 mph 24 183.436 mph 186.052 mph
2008 May 22 Thursday United Kingdom Dillon Battistini 1:35.5430 188.397 mph 27 178.497 mph 186.196 mph
2009 May 21 Thursday New Zealand Wade Cunningham 1:34.6485 190.177 mph 22 185.269 mph 187.749 mph
2010 May 27 Thursday United Kingdom Pippa Mann 1:35.7505 187.989 mph 15 183.479 mph 185.988 mph
2011 May 26 Thursday United States Bryan Clauson Grid set by entrant points due to rain.
2012 May 24 Thursday Colombia Gustavo Yacamán 1:35.9913 187.517 mph 19 184.494 mph 185.828 mph
2013 May 23 Thursday United States Sage Karam 1:35.1160 189.243 mph 11 185.967 mph 187.412 mph
2014 May 22 Thursday Brazil Luiz Razia 1:35.8926 187.710 mph 11 182.697 mph 185.056 mph
2015 May 21 Thursday United States Ethan Ringel 1:31.0545 197.684 mph 12 194.404 mph 195.909 mph
2016 May 26 Thursday United Arab Emirates Ed Jones Grid set by entrant points due to rain.
2017 May 25 Thursday Brazil Matheus Leist 1:30.3625 199.198 mph 14 195.445 mph 196.984 mph
2018 May 24 Thursday Canada Dalton Kellett 1:32.2947 195.027 mph 8 193.269 mph 194.054 mph

Event records

Year Driver
Fastest race 2018 United States Colton Herta Time: 31:20.6650 Speed: 191.422 mph 100 Miles 40 Laps
Fastest qualification run 2017 Brazil Matheus Leist Time: 01:30.3625 Speed: 199.198 mph 5 Miles 2 Laps
Fastest qualifying lap 2017 Brazil Matheus Leist Time: 00:45.1654 Speed: 199.268 mph 2.5 Miles 1 Lap
Fastest race lap 2017 Uruguay Santiago Urrutia Time: 00:45.4307 Speed: 198.104 mph 2.5 Miles 1 Lap
Most wins by a driver 2006; 2009; 2010 New Zealand Wade Cunningham 3 Wins
Most starts by a driver 2005 - 2010 New Zealand Wade Cunningham 6 Starts
Most participants 2008 27 Starting Drivers

Drivers

In the first fifteen years that this race has been contested, 158 drivers have participated:

drivers who went on to race in the Indianapolis 500, after first participating in the Freedom 100.
drivers who had already driven in the Indianapolis 500, before participating in the Freedom 100.
drivers who attempted unsuccessfully to race in the Indianapolis 500
Driver Nation Starts First Latest Best
Finishing Position
Best
Finish Year
Laps led
Mishael Abbott  USA 2200520061120050
Neil Alberico  USA 220162017420170
Cyndie Allemann   Switzerland 1200820082620080
Scott Anderson  USA 220142015320150
Marco Andretti  USA 1200520051620050
Richard Antinucci  USA 120082008220080
Chase Austin  USA 420112014820130
Rodrigo Barbosa  Brazil 2200920101220100
Alexandre Baron  France 120142014720140
Dillon Battistini  United Kingdom 1200820081200838
Matt Beardsley  USA 220032004820040
Ana Beatriz Figueiredo  Brazil 220082009520080
Shelby Blackstock  USA 320152017420160
Matthew Brabham  USA 1201420142201428
Jon Brownson  USA 220072008920070
Nick Bussell  USA 2200620061020060
Jaime Camara  Brazil 3200520071200533
Adrian Campos, Jr.  Spain 1201020101020100
Victor Carbone  Brazil 2201120126201225
Tyce Carlson  USA 1200620061520060
Ed Carpenter  USA 1200320031200339
Cole Carter  USA 1200520051820050
Gabby Chaves  Colombia 220132014120146
James Chesson  USA 1200620061820060
Heamin Choi  South Korea 1201620161220160
Marco Cioci  Italy 120032003920030
Dan Clarke  United Kingdom 120102010420100
Bryan Clauson  USA 120112011520110
Wade Cunningham  New Zealand 62005201012006; 2009; 201099
Paul Dana  USA 220032004720030
Nicolas Dapero  Argentina 1201720171220170
James Davison  Australia 220082009620091
Alon Day  Israel 120122012820120
Zachary Claman DeMelo  Canada 220162017620170
Peter Dempsey  Ireland 320112013120131
Geoff Dodge  USA 120062006820060
Craig Dollansky  USA 1200320031720030
Pablo Donoso  Chile 220082009920090
Jay Drake  USA 220042005320050
Armaan Ebrahim  India 1201220121320120
RC Enerson  USA 220152016420150
Brandon Erwin  USA 1200320031120030
Duarte Ferreira  Angola 1201120111320110
Chris Festa  USA 420052008220070
Aaron Fike  USA 120032003620030
Taylor Fletcher  USA 220042005920050
Victor Franzoni  Brazil 120182018820182
Juan Pablo Garcia  Mexico 420112014620140
Victor Garcia  Spain 120112011320110
Phil Giebler  USA 220042006520040
Micky Gilbert  USA 2200720081520070
Logan Gomez  USA 220072008720080
Jorge Goncalvez  Venezuela 320112013620130
Travis Gregg  USA 120052005620050
Mikael Grenier  Canada 1201120111020110
Esteban Guerrieri  Argentina 220112012120125
Sean Guthrie  USA 3200620081120060
Davey Hamilton Jr.  USA 120182018720180
Matthew Hamilton  New Zealand 1200620061320060
Scott Hargrove  Canada 120162016520160
Scott Harrington  USA 1200320031220030
Jack Harvey  United Kingdom 2201420151201510
Jack Hawksworth  United Kingdom 1201320131020130
Jon Herb  USA 3200420061320051
Daniel Herrington  USA 120092009720090
Colton Herta  USA 2201720181201810
J.R. Hildebrand  USA 2200820092200923
James Hinchcliffe  Canada 220092010320100
Jay Howard  United Kingdom 220062009220060
João Victor Horto  Brazil 120122012720120
Imran Husain  India 1200520051420050
Alistair Jackson  United Kingdom 1200920091920090
Brad Jaeger  USA 1200720072120070
Nico Jamin  France 1201720171020170
Shane Jantzi  Canada 1200720071820070
Matt Jaskol  USA 120072007720070
Ronnie Johncox  USA 120032003820030
Ed Jones  UAE 2201520162201610
Ryan Justice  USA 1200720071320070
Kyle Kaiser  USA 320152017520150
Sage Karam  USA 1201320133201312
Dalton Kellett  Canada 32016201832016; 2017; 201817
Charlie Kimball  USA 220092010220102
Jonathan Klein  USA 220062007620060
Anders Krohn  Norway 2201120121220117
Mike Larrison  USA 120122012920120
Matheus Leist  Brazil 1201720171201740
Alex Lloyd  United Kingdom 2200620071200740
Ken Losch  Canada 1200720072420070
Arie Luyendyk Jr.  Netherlands 420032010320040
Leonardo Maia  Brazil 120042004620040
Philip Major  Canada 120102010620100
Pippa Mann  United Kingdom 2200920101620100
Jesse Mason  Canada 220042009820090
Raphael Matos  Brazil 1200820081020080
Thiago Medeiros  Brazil 2200320041200435
Zack Meyer  Canada 1201420141020140
Rusty Mitchell  USA 120112011720110
Rocky Moran Jr.  USA 1200520051720050
Carlos Muñoz  Colombia 2201220132201227
Hideki Mutoh  Japan 120072007520070
André Negrão  Brazil 1201620161520160
Josef Newgarden  USA 1201120111201130
Emerson Newton-John  USA 1201220121720120
Ryan Norman  USA 220172018520180
Kyle O'Gara  USA 1201320131120130
Patricio O'Ward  Mexico 120182018220183
Mark Olson  USA 1200820082520080
David Ostella  Canada 220112012820110
Robbie Pecorari  USA 220072008420080
Gary Peterson  USA 2200320041320040
Juan Piedrahita  Colombia 420142017720150
Spencer Pigot  USA 120152015920150
Martin Plowman  United Kingdom 220092010520100
Brad Pollard  USA 1200420041120040
Mike Potekhen  USA 320072009620070
Andrew Prendeville  USA 320072009420070
Rolando Quintanilla  Mexico 2200320041020030
German Quiroga  Mexico 1200520051020050
Sean Rayhall  USA 120152015620150
Luiz Razia  Brazil 120142014420145
Jonny Reid  New Zealand 1200820082020080
Garth Rickards  USA 120172017720170
Ethan Ringel  USA 1201520152201530
Billy Roe  USA 220032004920040
Mario Romancini  Brazil 120092009320090
Felix Rosenqvist  Sweden 120162016920160
Marty Roth  Canada 220042005520050
Sebastian Saavedra  Colombia 32009201252009; 20123
Joey Scarallo  Australia 1200720072020070
Félix Serrallés  Puerto Rico 220152016620160
Brent Sherman  USA 1200820081620080
Jeff Simmons  USA 520032010220045
Jimmy Simpson  USA 120132013720130
Stephen Simpson  South Africa 1200720071420070
Jake Slotten  USA 1200820082320080
Dean Stoneman  United Kingdom 1201620161201630
Junior Strous  Netherlands 1200920091020090
Jonathan Summerton  USA 1200920091220090
Mark Taylor  United Kingdom 120032003320031
Aaron Telitz  USA 220172018220170
Al Unser III  USA 320052008420050
Jonathan Urlin  USA 120032003520030
Santiago Urrutia  Uruguay 320162018420188
Brett Van Blankers  Canada 1200620061420060
Tristan Vautier  France 1201220123201211
Zach Veach  USA 320132016320141
Jean-Karl Vernay  France 1201020101320100
Brandon Wagner  USA 420092012820100
Oliver Webb  United Kingdom 1201220121520120
Tom Wieringa  USA 3200620081220060
Marc Williams  New Zealand 2200720081520080
Bobby Wilson  USA 320062008620080
Stefan Wilson  United Kingdom 220102011420111
James Winslow  United Kingdom 1201120111720110
Cory Witherill  USA 220032004220030
Tom Wood  Canada 320032006920060
Gustavo Yacaman  Colombia 420092012420121

Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500 "Double"

Since the Freedom 100 began in 2003, four different drivers have competed both in this race and in the Indianapolis 500, during the same month.

Year Driver Freedom 100
Finish
Indianapolis 500
finish
2004Canada Marty Roth1624
2004United States Jeff Simmons216
2005Canada Marty Roth531
2008United States Jeff Simmons828
2010ColombiaSebastian Saavedra923
2012ColombiaSebastian Saavedra526
2013ColombiaCarlos Muñoz42

Sources

References

  1. 1979 Mini-Indy Series IRP at ChampCarStats.com
  2. "Firestone Freedom 100 To Feature Firestone Indy Lights May 23 At IMS". name. 2008-03-26. Archived from the original on 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
  3. "Guerrieri charges from back to win Freedom 100". name. 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  4. Marot, Michael. Indianapolis Motor Speedway With Historic Final Lap, Huffington Post, May 24, 2013, Retrieved 2013-05-24
  5. "Stoneman Wins Thrilling Freedom 100 in Closest-Ever Indianapolis Finish". www.indylights.com. Retrieved 2017-02-14.
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