"The Friday Setup" will be a preview of the upcoming races and the schedule of the weekend events (practice and qualifications) leading up to race day. Also it will include other forms of rambling about the upcoming race (and the overall state of IndyCar) by yours truly, because I got to somehow bring up the word-count so SBNation will allow the posting of this article/schedule so you can see it. Or something like that.

Normally I would be rambling about the upcoming race or something else relating to IndyCar in this post. This week's Friday Setup, however, is going to be a bit different. Why?

Tomorrow is Simona de Silvestro's BIRTHDAY!!! YES SIR, IT'S SIMONA DE SILVESTRO DAY!!!

Yes, the cake's all ready....

Wait, I know what you're saying. "78? She's not 78 years old, dumbs**t!!!" HEY, IT'S HER CAR NUMBER. THIS IS ART. SHUT UP AND BASK IN THE GLOWING PRESENCE OF WIN.

Okay, a cake just isn't enough. Hell, buy the time you read this a big chunk of it will be located somewhere in my septic system in a very different...state. (YAY NATURE!) So, I decided to get her something far more thoughtful and longer lasting than just a piece of lousy cake...

You KNEW I was going to do it again eventually...A POEM!!!

For Her Birthday

Young Simona, one year older

My dear, it hasn't been your year

Pretty soon, outside's going to get all colder

Before that, one thing has to be clear

An engine you need, quicker than the last

Much faster than the Lotus sled

You deserve the fastest of the fast

And soon over everyone you'll be ahead

HOORAY CREEPINESS!!! No? Not enough? Well, I guess a song rather than a poem should also be in order. What better way to sing to the Iron Maiden on her birthday than with some "Wasted Years" by Iron Maiden?

Yes, Simona..."Do not go wasting time always searching for those wasted years."

Yep, that should do it. No, not just a good poem and a great song, but finally that restraining order that I've been trying to get the past two years is finally going to get written. Yes, today is the day. That's the last time I blog and drink at the same time.

Happy Birthday Sim, from all of us at PopOffValve.com and the rest of the IndyCar nation of fans. Hang in there, kid. The results are going to come.

Alright, on to business BLAH BLAH Baltimore Grand Prix BLAH BLAH BLAH and such.

(Race weekend schedule and Pre-Race Snack of the Week after the jump)

TV Schedule (NBC Sports Channel)

Qualifying, Saturday 6pm Eastern
Race, Sunday 2pm Eastern

(INDYCAR 36 will air after the race, IndyLights before)

Race Weekend Schedule of Events

ALL TIMES LOCAL (Eastern)

Friday, August 31

8:00-8:30 AM USF2000 Practice
8:40-9:10 Star Mazda Practice
9:30-10:00 Group A IZOD IndyCar Series Practice
10:00-10:30 Group B IZOD IndyCar Series Practice
10:50-11:50 ALMS Practice
12:10-12:55 PM Firestone Indy Lights Practice
1:15-1:45 USF2000 Qualifying
1:55-2:25 Star Mazda Qualifying
2:45-3:45 IZOD IndyCar Series Practice
4:05-5:05 ALMS Practice
5:10-5:25 ALMS Qualifying GTC
5:25-5:40 ALMS Qualifying GT
5:50-6:05 ALMS Qualifying LMPC
6:05-6:20 ALMS Qualifying LMP 1 & 2

Saturday, September 1

8:00-8:40 AM Firestone Indy Lights Practice
9:00-10:00 IZOD IndyCar Series Practice
10:20-10:45 ALMS Warm Up
11:05-11:45 Firestone Indy Lights Qualifying
12:05-1:20 PM IZOD IndyCar Series Qualifying - Firestone Fast Six
1:40-1:45 USF2000 Pre-Race/DSYE
1:45-2:15 USF2000 Race #1
2:30-2:35 Star Mazda Pre-Race/DSYE
2:35-3:05 Star Mazda Race #1
3:00-4:35 ALMS Pre-Race
4:30-6:30 ALMS Race

Sunday, September 2

9:45-10:15 AM IZOD IndyCar Series Warm Up
10:35-11:15 USF2000 Race #2
11:35-12:15 PM Star Mazda Race #2
12:42-1:42 Firestone Indy Lights Race
2:45-5:00 IZOD IndyCar Series Race

Pre-Race Snack of the Week - Epic Meal Time's Meat Cthulhu

I figure since Baltimore is beside the sea, how about a nightmarish sea creature snack thing that should not be?

Also as an added bonus a Deadmau5 performance for you kids into that stuff...