Freedom 100

(Redirected from Firestone Freedom 100)

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

Freedom 100
Indy Lights
VenueIndianapolis Motor Speedway
First race2003
First Lights race2003
Last race2019
Distance100 miles (160 km)
Laps40
Previous namesFirestone 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 was the second race annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the other being the Grand Prix on the combined road course.

Race history

2019 Freedom 100

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, while Colton Herta earned the win in 2018. Herta's Freedom 100 victory made it a clean sweep of the month of May for the young second-generation driver, who won both Indy Lights races on the road course at the INDYCAR Grand Prix.

Wade Cunningham(pictured in 2008) won the race three times

In 2019, Andretti Autosport's Oliver Askew took the race win in typically dramatic fashion, passing teammate Ryan Norman at the line by a mere 0.0067 seconds - the fourth closest finish in the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. There were 12 official lead changes at the start/finish line, but nearly 100 passes for position throughout the 40-lap race. The race starting order was altered post-qualifying when five cars failed post-qualifying technical inspection and were relegated to the back of the field, though this number did not include pole sitter Robert Megennis.

The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled after the Indy Lights season was also cancelled.[6] The race was axed from Lights' 2021 calendar. IndyCar took responsibility for the move, claiming it was to ensure for a smooth Indianapolis 500 weekend.[7]

Race results

YearDateDayWinning DriverRace DistanceTime of RaceWinning SpeedStarting
Cars
Lead
Changes
Ref
MilesLaps
2003May 17–18 aSat.–Sun. Ed Carpenter1004055:02.1661109.019 mph (175.449 km/h)192[8]
2004May 22Saturday Thiago Medeiros1004042:16.4388141.931 mph (228.416 km/h)172[9]
2005May 27Friday Jaime Camara1004040:52.6390146.780 mph (236.220 km/h)187[10]
2006May 26Friday Wade Cunningham1004032:29.3233184.679 mph (297.212 km/h)190[11]
2007May 25Friday Alex Lloyd1004046:39.6029128.590 mph (206.946 km/h)240[12]
2008May 24 bSaturday Dillon Battistini1004039:46.9495150.820 mph (242.721 km/h)274[13]
2009May 22Friday Wade Cunningham1004050:42.2548118.333 mph (190.439 km/h)229[14]
2010May 28Friday Wade Cunningham1004039:55.4552150.285 mph (241.860 km/h)164[15]
2011May 27Friday Josef Newgarden1004055:38.9881107.817 mph (173.515 km/h)186[16]
2012May 25Friday Esteban Guerrieri1004040:09.1965149.427 mph (240.479 km/h)19 c3[17]
2013May 24Friday Peter Dempsey1004036:48.6540162.995 mph (262.315 km/h)112[18]
2014May 23Friday Gabby Chaves1004041:46.9680143.600 mph (231.102 km/h)119[19]
2015May 22Friday Jack Harvey1004033:21.2712179.886 mph (289.498 km/h)116[20]
2016May 27Friday Dean Stoneman1004041:08.6299145.830 mph (234.691 km/h)163[21]
2017May 26Friday Matheus Leist1004036:36.6934163.883 mph (263.744 km/h)140[22]
2018May 25Friday Colton Herta1004031:20.6650191.422 mph (308.064 km/h)820[23]
2019May 24Friday Oliver Askew1004042:02.6912142.705 mph (229.661 km/h)1112[24]
a In 2003 the race started on Saturday May 17, but was halted by rain. It was completed the following day.[25]
b The 2008 race was scheduled for Friday May 23 but postponed one day due to rain.[26]
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

YearDateDayPole Sitter /
Fast Qualifier
Pole 2-Lap
Qualifying Time
Pole SpeedNumber of
Qualifiers
Slow Qualifier SpeedMean Qualifying Speed
2003May 16Friday Ed Carpenter1:35.4958188.490 mph (303.345 km/h)18179.550 mph (288.958 km/h)184.460 mph (296.860 km/h)
2004May 21Friday Thiago Medeiros1:35.1000189.274 mph (304.607 km/h)17178.100 mph (286.624 km/h)186.302 mph (299.824 km/h)
2005May 26Thursday Jaime Camara1:34.8018189.870 mph (305.566 km/h)17168.816 mph (271.683 km/h)184.892 mph (297.555 km/h)
2006May 25Thursday Wade Cunningham1:36.5546186.423 mph (300.019 km/h)18171.844 mph (276.556 km/h)181.753 mph (292.503 km/h)
2007May 24Thursday Ken Losch1:35.6271188.231 mph (302.928 km/h)24183.436 mph (295.212 km/h)186.052 mph (299.422 km/h)
2008May 22Thursday Dillon Battistini1:35.5430188.397 mph (303.196 km/h)27178.497 mph (287.263 km/h)186.196 mph (299.653 km/h)
2009May 21Thursday Wade Cunningham1:34.6485190.177 mph (306.060 km/h)22185.269 mph (298.162 km/h)187.749 mph (302.153 km/h)
2010May 27Thursday Pippa Mann1:35.7505187.989 mph (302.539 km/h)15183.479 mph (295.281 km/h)185.988 mph (299.319 km/h)
2011May 26Thursday Bryan ClausonGrid set by entrant points due to rain.
2012May 24Thursday Gustavo Yacamán1:35.9913187.517 mph (301.779 km/h)19184.494 mph (296.914 km/h)185.828 mph (299.061 km/h)
2013May 23Thursday Sage Karam1:35.1160189.243 mph (304.557 km/h)11185.967 mph (299.285 km/h)187.412 mph (301.610 km/h)
2014May 22Thursday Luiz Razia1:35.8926187.710 mph (302.090 km/h)11182.697 mph (294.022 km/h)185.056 mph (297.819 km/h)
2015May 21Thursday Ethan Ringel1:31.0545197.684 mph (318.142 km/h)12194.404 mph (312.863 km/h)195.909 mph (315.285 km/h)
2016May 26Thursday Ed JonesGrid set by entrant points due to rain.
2017May 25Thursday Matheus Leist1:30.3625199.198 mph (320.578 km/h)14195.445 mph (314.538 km/h)196.984 mph (317.015 km/h)
2018May 24Thursday Dalton Kellett1:32.2947195.027 mph (313.866 km/h)8193.269 mph (311.036 km/h)194.054 mph (312.300 km/h)
2019May 23Thursday Robert Megennis1:32.6851194.206 mph (312.544 km/h)11191.304 mph (307.874 km/h)192.462 mph (309.738 km/h)1
  1. ^ Five cars in the field had their qualifying runs disallowed for failing technical inspection, leaving only six official times.

Event records

YearDriverTimeSpeedDistanceLaps
Fastest race2018 Colton Herta31:20.6650191.422 mph (308.064 km/h)100 mi (160 km)40
Fastest qualification run2017 Matheus Leist01:30.3625199.198 mph (320.578 km/h)5 mi (8.0 km)2
Fastest qualifying lap2017 Matheus Leist00:45.1654199.268 mph (320.691 km/h)2.5 mi (4.0 km)1
Fastest race lap2017 Santiago Urrutia00:45.4307198.104 mph (318.817 km/h)2.5 mi (4.0 km)1
Most wins by a driver2006; 2009; 2010 Wade Cunningham3 Wins
Most starts by a driver2005 - 2010 Wade Cunningham6 Starts
Most participants200827 Starting Drivers

Drivers

In the first seventeen years that this race has been contested, 166 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
DriverNationStartsFirstLatestBest
Finishing Position
Best
Finish Year
Laps led
Mishael Abbott  USA2200520061120050
Neil Alberico  USA220162017420170
Cyndie Allemann   Switzerland1200820082620080
Scott Anderson  USA220142015320150
Jarett Andretti  USA120192019620190
Marco Andretti  USA1200520051620050
Richard Antinucci  USA120082008220080
Oliver Askew  USA120192019120193
Chase Austin  USA420112014820130
Rodrigo Barbosa  Brazil2200920101220100
Alexandre Baron  France120142014720140
Dillon Battistini  United Kingdom1200820081200838
Matt Beardsley  USA220032004820040
Ana Beatriz Figueiredo  Brazil220082009520080
Shelby Blackstock  USA320152017420160
Matthew Brabham  USA1201420142201428
Jon Brownson  USA220072008920070
Nick Bussell  USA2200620061020060
Jaime Camara  Brazil3200520071200533
Adrian Campos, Jr.  Spain1201020101020100
Victor Carbone  Brazil2201120126201225
Tyce Carlson  USA1200620061520060
Ed Carpenter  USA1200320031200339
Cole Carter  USA1200520051820050
Gabby Chaves  Colombia220132014120146
James Chesson  USA1200620061820060
Heamin Choi  South Korea1201620161220160
Marco Cioci  Italy120032003920030
Dan Clarke  United Kingdom120102010420100
Bryan Clauson  USA120112011520110
Wade Cunningham  New Zealand62005201012006; 2009; 201099
Paul Dana  USA220032004720030
Nicolas Dapero  Argentina1201720171220170
James Davison  Australia220082009620091
Alon Day  Israel120122012820120
Zachary Claman DeMelo  Canada220162017620170
Peter Dempsey  Ireland320112013120131
Geoff Dodge  USA120062006820060
Craig Dollansky  USA1200320031720030
Pablo Donoso  Chile220082009920090
Jay Drake  USA220042005320050
Armaan Ebrahim  India1201220121320120
R. C. Enerson  USA220152016420150
Brandon Erwin  USA1200320031120030
Duarte Ferreira  Angola1201120111320110
Chris Festa  USA420052008220070
Aaron Fike  USA120032003620030
Taylor Fletcher  USA220042005920050
Victor Franzoni  Brazil120182018820182
Juan Pablo Garcia  Mexico420112014620140
Victor Garcia  Spain120112011320110
Phil Giebler  USA220042006520040
Micky Gilbert  USA2200720081520070
Logan Gomez  USA220072008720080
Jorge Goncalvez  Venezuela320112013620130
Travis Gregg  USA120052005620050
Mikael Grenier  Canada1201120111020110
Esteban Guerrieri  Argentina220112012120125
Sean Guthrie  USA3200620081120060
Davey Hamilton Jr.  USA120182018720180
Matthew Hamilton  New Zealand1200620061320060
Scott Hargrove  Canada120162016520160
Scott Harrington  USA1200320031220030
Jack Harvey  United Kingdom2201420151201510
Jack Hawksworth  United Kingdom1201320131020130
Jon Herb  USA3200420061320051
Daniel Herrington  USA120092009720090
Colton Herta  USA2201720181201810
J. R. Hildebrand  USA2200820092200923
James Hinchcliffe  Canada220092010320100
João Victor Horto  Brazil120122012720120
Jay Howard  United Kingdom220062009220060
Imran Husain  India1200520051420050
Alistair Jackson  United Kingdom1200920091920090
Brad Jaeger  USA1200720072120070
Nico Jamin  France1201720171020170
Shane Jantzi  Canada1200720071820070
Matt Jaskol  USA120072007720070
Ronnie Johncox  USA120032003820030
Ed Jones  UAE2201520162201610
Ryan Justice  USA1200720071320070
Kyle Kaiser  USA320152017520150
Sage Karam  USA1201320133201312
Dalton Kellett  Canada42016201932016; 2017; 201817
Charlie Kimball  USA220092010220102
Jonathan Klein  USA220062007620060
Lucas Kohl  Brazil120192019720190
Anders Krohn  Norway2201120121220117
Mike Larrison  USA120122012920120
Matheus Leist  Brazil1201720171201740
Alex Lloyd  United Kingdom2200620071200740
Ken Losch  Canada1200720072420070
Arie Luyendyk Jr.  Netherlands420032010320040
Leonardo Maia  Brazil120042004620040
Philip Major  Canada120102010620100
David Malukas  USA1201920191120190
Pippa Mann  United Kingdom2200920101620100
Jesse Mason  Canada220042009820090
Raphael Matos  Brazil1200820081020080
Thiago Medeiros  Brazil2200320041200435
Robert Megennis  USA120192019820192
Zack Meyer  Canada1201420141020140
Rusty Mitchell  USA120112011720110
Rocky Moran Jr.  USA1200520051720050
Carlos Muñoz  Colombia2201220132201227
Hideki Mutoh  Japan120072007520070
André Negrão  Brazil1201620161520160
Josef Newgarden  USA1201120111201130
Emerson Newton-John  USA1201220121720120
Ryan Norman  USA3201720192201929
Kyle O'Gara  USA1201320131120130
Patricio O'Ward  Mexico120182018220183
Mark Olson  USA1200820082520080
David Ostella  Canada220112012820110
Robbie Pecorari  USA220072008420080
Gary Peterson  USA2200320041320040
Juan Piedrahita  Colombia420142017720150
Spencer Pigot  USA120152015920150
Martin Plowman  United Kingdom220092010520100
Brad Pollard  USA1200420041120040
Mike Potekhen  USA320072009620070
Andrew Prendeville  USA320072009420070
Rolando Quintanilla  Mexico2200320041020030
German Quiroga  Mexico1200520051020050
Sean Rayhall  USA120152015620150
Luiz Razia  Brazil120142014420145
Jonny Reid  New Zealand1200820082020080
Garth Rickards  USA120172017720170
Ethan Ringel  USA1201520152201530
Billy Roe  USA220032004920040
Mario Romancini  Brazil120092009320090
Felix Rosenqvist  Sweden120162016920160
Marty Roth  Canada220042005520050
Sebastián Saavedra  Colombia32009201252009; 20123
Joey Scarallo  Australia1200720072020070
Félix Serrallés  Puerto Rico220152016620160
Brent Sherman  USA1200820081620080
Jeff Simmons  USA520032010220045
Jimmy Simpson  USA120132013720130
Stephen Simpson  South Africa1200720071420070
Jake Slotten  USA1200820082320080
Toby Sowery  United Kingdom120192019420190
Dean Stoneman  United Kingdom1201620161201630
Junior Strous  Netherlands1200920091020090
Jonathan Summerton  USA1200920091220090
Mark Taylor  United Kingdom120032003320031
Aaron Telitz  USA320172019220170
Al Unser III  USA320052008420050
Jonathan Urlin  USA120032003520030
Santiago Urrutia  Uruguay320162018420188
Brett Van Blankers  Canada1200620061420060
Tristan Vautier  France1201220123201211
Zach Veach  USA320132016320141
Rinus VeeKay  Netherlands120192019320196
Jean-Karl Vernay  France1201020101320100
Brandon Wagner  USA420092012820100
Oliver Webb  United Kingdom1201220121520120
Tom Wieringa  USA3200620081220060
Marc Williams  New Zealand2200720081520080
Bobby Wilson  USA320062008620080
Stefan Wilson  United Kingdom220102011420111
Chris Windom  USA1201920191020190
James Winslow  United Kingdom1201120111720110
Cory Witherill  USA220032004220030
Tom Wood  Canada320032006920060
Gustavo Yacaman  Colombia420092012420121

Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500 "Double"

Carlos Muñoz finished 2nd at the 2013 Indianapolis 500, his first ever IndyCar Series race

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.

YearDriverFreedom 100
Finish
Indianapolis 500
finish
2004 Marty Roth1624
2004 Jeff Simmons216
2005 Marty Roth531
2008 Jeff Simmons828
2010 Sebastián Saavedra923
2012 Sebastián Saavedra526
2013 Carlos Muñoz42

Sources

References