Indy Grand Prix can be 'good for the heart' but doesn't predict speed for Indy 500

Alex Palou had the pragmatic answer when asked if the Indianapolis Grand Prix weekend means anything heading into the next two weeks and as it relates to the Indianapolis 500.

"If it goes well, you want it to mean a lot," Palou said Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "And if it goes bad, you don't want it to mean anything."

INDYCAR drivers will spend two days (Friday and Saturday) on the IMS road course before hitting the track Tuesday for practice for the Indianapolis 500.

The oval cars have some different body panels and setups, so navigating the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course at IMS is totally different from the 2.5-mile rectangular-shaped oval. 

"Having a lot of speed [this weekend] doesn't mean anything for the 500. Or not having enough speed — I don't think it's going to translate much," Palou said.

"But it's true that momentum and having good results is going to impact, not only the driver, but also the overall mindset of the team. Not having a good result doesn't mean that it's going to be a tough month, but for sure you don't have that extra boost from the Indy road course."

Santino Ferrucci exited the Grand Prix early last year with a brake issue. The team decided to retire the car rather than risk additional damage.

A week later, he made the Fast Six in qualifying to start on the outside of the second row for the Indianapolis 500 and finished the race eighth.

"Just having a good result, qualifying well executing, and just having a solid mindset into the next 14 days would be what's important," Ferrucci said. "I retired the car here last year in the GP ... and it really didn’t affect us much."

Why even have this race? 

The Month of May in Indianapolis used to include two full weeks of practice and