Why it's called Carb Day when Indy cars don't use carburetors
Carb Day kicks off the Memorial Day weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with the final Indianapolis 500 practice, a pit stop challenge and a concert. It's a perfect day to get into the spirit of the race (and blow off work).
But, Carb Day? What's that about? Sure, a lot of fans will ingest a lot of carbs at the track, but that's not what we're talking about.
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Decades ago, the track hosted Carburetion Day, when race teams had their last chance to tune the carburetors on their gasoline-powered cars. The cars that race at IMS haven't used carburetors in decades, but at a facility steeped in tradition, the name stuck.
Carburetion Day was held on a random day the week before the race and wasn't open to the public until the mid-1950s. From 1969-2004, the event was held on Thursday of race week. In 2005, Speedway officials moved it to Friday and started the party.
Carb Day is still serious business for the race teams, which make sure their cars are in top shape and practice pit stops at race speed.
2024 Carb Day schedule
Friday, May 24, 2024
8 a.m.-6 p.m.: Gates open
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Indy 500 practice
2:30-4 p.m.: Pit stop contest
3-6 p.m.: Concert featuring George Thorogood & and the Destroyers, Gin Blossoms and Kid Quill.
Carb Day tickets
What is a carburetor?
Carburetors mix air and fuel in a proper ratio for combustion engines, such as those in passenger cars.
Do Indy 500 cars have carburetors?
No. The last time a car with a carburetor qualified for the race was in 1963. Fuel injectors replaced carburetors.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: What is Carb Day? Here's what to know ahead of the 2024 Indy 500
