Indianapolis, IN
South Florida boasts four drivers who could win Indianapolis 500
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SPEEDWAY, IN – As host to the 109th Running of the Indy 500, Indianapolis always has been considered one of sport’s “boom towns,” the center of it all in the middle of auto racing’s biggest weekend – major races all day in all the world’s premier series.
And this week – as with so many years previously – South Florida has contributed substantially to the great Indy 500 race’s cast of renowned power players. Four of the 33 drivers on this year’s starting grid either call South Florida home now or did only months ago – from breakout star Jupiter’s Kyle Kirkwood, to Fort Lauderdale 2014 Indy winner Ryan Hunter-Reay. Four-time Indy champion Helio Castroneves and young standout Rinus Veekay both lived in Miami until a couple of months ago.
The 2014 Indy 500 winner and 2012 IndyCar Series champion, Hunter-Reay, grew up in Fort Lauderdale, went to Cardinal Gibbons High School and his family of five lives in the same area now. A part-time competitor at this point, this will be Hunter-Reay’s 17th start in the Indy 500.
And this week 12-year old Ryden Hunter-Reay was able to join his father for race activities – even sitting at the podium during a news conference and fielding a couple of questions with ease.
Missing out on a couple days of school versus being at the most famous race in the world with his father, who will start 25th, seemed like a no-brainer.
“I think it’s better, way better,” Ryden allowed with a huge smile.
Kirkwood easily has become one of the sport’s favorite competitors. The 26-year old is one of only two race winners this season – claiming his second trophy at the renowned Long Beach Grand Prix in April. He currently sits second in the championship, 97 points behind this season’s only other race winner, four-time victor Alex Palou.
True to his good nature, Kirkwood smiled recalling how after his big win at Long Beach a few weeks ago, a Southern California newspaper mistakenly identified him as “Kirk” Kirkwood in a big headline. With all the kidding he’s received from his teammates and fellow racers, he conceded that “Kirk Kirkwood,” is almost like an alter ego for him now.
“I’m going to start making hats, using that golf font that they always put ‘Brickyard’ on the front, it’s just going to be ‘Kirk,’ “ Kirkwood said this week, laughing. “I’m hoping to get some sales with that. I’m just accepting it now.”
The always challenging Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been a steady and positive progression for Kirkwood – as with all drivers it’s a learning curve getting a handle on the unique 2.5-mile track. He is coming off a career-best finish in the 500 – leading his first laps (two) in the race and finishing seventh last year in only his third start.
On May 25, his No. 26 Andretti Global Honda takes the green flag from the 23rd position on the grid – his starting place not truly indicative of his performance at Indianapolis this month. He was consistently among the top 10 in five days of practice and seemed quite optimistic about his chances in front of about a dozen of his family and friends from Florida who will be among a sold-out crowd of 325,000.
“It was a little bit of a head-scratcher this past weekend because we came out of the first few days, no-tow speeds were amazing, race pace was amazing,” Kirkwood said of qualifying.
Kyle Kirkwood optimistic about Indy 500 chances
Despite the slight qualifying setback, Kirkwood said he’s actually never been more optimistic about his chances on race day.
“Fortunately,” he said. “I have a wizard on the stand, [strategist] Bryan Herta, who has helped me, guided me to the lead or at least close to the lead in the past couple of years. I’m excited for it. This is the best race car I’ve ever had around this place. I don’t want to see it go to waste.”
Castroneves, who just recently moved from Miami to Atlanta, won all four of his record-tying Indianapolis 500 trophies while living in South Florida. A fifth Indy 500 in his No. 06 Meyer Shank Racing Team Honda would make Castroneves the all-time winningest driver in the race’s history. And as with his fellow eighth-row starter Kirkwood, Castroneves has been faster than his starting position indicates. And like Hunter-Reay, this is his first start of the season.
“Wow, 25, 25th edition, which is amazing,” the Brazilian Castroneves said of his total Indy starts, which are most in the field. “If I wouldn’t be in so much love with this place, I wouldn’t be coming back for sure. But this place has been good to me. This place is amazing. I want to try to get what a lot of people (want) and especially rewrite history.
“We’re going to have hard work to go up there, but a great row here. I feel like we’re going to be up front very soon.”
Ryan Hunter-Reay’s car catches fire during ‘Carb Day’ practice
Hunter-Reay had a tougher than usual final “Carb Day” practice as his No. 23 Dreyer Reinbold Chevy caught fire midway through the two-hour session. Hunter-Reay pulled off the track and got out quickly. He was OK, the car was towed back to the team garage and the team went to work on it. Disappointed, but not disillusioned, Hunter-Reay acknowledged it is part of the drama of this race.
“That caught my attention,” Hunter-Reay said, adding, “Just have to figure out why.”
Hunter-Reay said it never gets old competing at Indianapolis.
“It’s not like it becomes less stressful,” he said. “You just deal with it in a different way, and you manage that a bit more. Yeah, it’s always come with a lot of pressure and obviously consequences on the racetrack and all that stuff. It’s part of the job.”
As the news conference closed, young Ryden Hunter-Reay was asked to make the ultimate prediction as to who will be celebrating on race day.
He did not hesitate: “My dad.”
109th Indianapolis 500
12:30 p.m., Sunday, May 25
TV: Fox
Defending champ: Josef Newgarden
The group cites changes in funding, including cuts to programs like Medicaid and rising healthcare costs as reasons behind the merger.
Darron Cummings / AP Photo
Planned Parenthood announced via its website it will merge three of its Indianapolis health centers in early April.
Friday, April 3 will be the last day for in-patient services at both the Midtown and Southside Planned Parenthood health centers in Indianapolis.
Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai’i, Alaska and Kentucky announced on its website this week the Georgetown Road location will have additional appointment availability and in-patient services.
The group cites changes in funding, including cuts to programs like Medicaid and rising healthcare costs as reasons behind the merger.
In a statement posted to the website the group acknowledged the changing landscape. “We also know that patient needs and priorities are changing, with more people turning to telemedicine for their health care. Because of this, we are making difficult but necessary adjustments to our health center network.”
For a list of resources patients can visit the Planned Parenthood website.
Contact WFYI Morning Edition newscaster and reporter Barbara Anguiano at banguiano@wfyi.org
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — As Indianapolis prepares to host one of the biggest events in college basketball, downtown business owners say they are getting ready for a surge in customers.
“We do have some extra inventory coming in just to make sure we have enough for anybody who’s in town that may need something, but we carry a pretty heavy selection of souvenirs and that type of thing all year round,” said Kim White, Co-owner of Circle City Souvenirs.
The NCAA Men’s Final Four on April 4th and 6th is just the main event. The city will also host the Division II, III, and NIT Basketball Championships.
The events are expected to bring tens of thousands of fans to the city; filling hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
City leaders say it’s not just about basketball, but the ripple effect across the local economy. According to Morgan Snyder, vice president of communications at Visit Indy, there’s an expected 70,000 visitors coming to the city. Hotels are already sold out.
“According to our partners at Indiana Sports Corp, it’s about a $400 million economic impact,” said Snyder.
From concerts and fan expereinces to events along Georgia Street, Snyder says there will be something for everyone. After months on construction, Georgia Steet is expected to repoen just in time, clearing the way for crowds and celebrations.
“It’ll be a tailgate fan fest zone all weekend long to come in and enjoy. It’ll be a major thoroughfare for fans coming either from Gainbridge Fieldhouse or Lucas Oil Stadium to catch some of the game,” said Snyder.
For businesses, a packed downtown is a chance to shine on a national stage, and make a lasting impression on visitors.
“Typically we do pretty well when we’ve got big events in town. We also sell items like hotel gift shops like Sundries, and snacks and drinks so we do sell a lot of that as well,” said White.
“They’re going to come in and see and find just how vibrant of a destination Indianapolis is. They’re going to come back and book another trip. It’s a strategy that has worked for us for years,” said Snyder
Check out the list of full events here.
How an Indiana abortion ruling could expand access in red states
When Indiana’s abortion ban was struck down in part, it presented a potential path for similar challenges in other states that could broaden access.
Planned Parenthood will shutter two Indianapolis clinics, leaving its Georgetown Road facility as the only local branch of the nationwide organization.
The Midtown and Southside locations will close effective Friday, April 3. The Georgetown health center will have “additional appointment availability and services” in the wake of the closure, according to Planned Parenthood’s regional website.
Patients receiving ongoing care like birth control or hormone replacement therapy can continue to do so through telehealth or by visiting another Planned Parenthood location, the website said.
“Because of changes to federal funding, including the loss of Medicaid reimbursements, we are making difficult but necessary adjustments to our health center network so we can continue caring for patients in our communities for years to come,” an FAQ posted with the closure announcement read in part.
Planned Parenthood estimated in 2024 that about half of patients receive care paid through either Medicaid or the Title X family planning program, which covers contraception and STI screening for low-income Americans. The Trump administration has moved to block the organization from receiving money from both streams.
Trump’s signature budget legislation, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” passed in July 2025 with a provision banning clinics that provide abortion, including Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid reimbursement for one year.
It has been illegal since 1976 to use federal dollars, including Medicaid, to cover abortion unless it’s necessary to save a life or to terminate a pregnancy caused by rape or incest. Planned Parenthood does not perform any abortions in Indiana, as the state’s near-total ban only allows the procedure to be performed in narrow circumstances at hospitals or their surgery centers.
For months, Planned Parenthood contested the constitutionality of the Medicaid funding ban in various federal courts, dropping its case on Jan. 30, 2026, after an appeals court ruled in the government’s favor.
Though the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services restored Title X money to clinics in December 2025 after withholding it for eight months, recipients learned last week that they have one week to reapply for funding. That’s typically a months-long process, and more than 100 congressional Democrats are asking HHS to extend current grants for another year, NPR reported on March 17.
Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.
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