The new Cadillac Formula 1 team is still finding its footing in the early stages of the 2026 season, and this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit has presented several challenges.

The team—whose global headquarters is currently under construction in Fishers—ran into reliability issues during the sprint qualifying session on Friday. Driver Sergio Perez was unable to participate after a fuel system problem prevented his car from running during the session. That setback placed Perez at the back of the sprint grid.

Teammate Valtteri Bottas was able to take part in qualifying but struggled to match the pace of the front-running teams, leaving Cadillac near the back of the field heading into the sprint race.

The sprint race itself did not produce points for the new team, which is still in the early stages of development in its first season competing in Formula 1. Teams such as Mercedes and Ferrari dominated the session, with Mercedes driver George Russell taking the sprint victory.

Later qualifying for Sunday’s main race also proved difficult for Cadillac, with both drivers finishing outside the competitive midfield group. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the race, followed by Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

Despite the results so far, Cadillac officials have emphasized that the early races are primarily about gathering data and building reliability for the new car. As a brand-new entry into the sport, the team is expected to face growing pains as engineers and drivers work to refine performance.

The Chinese Grand Prix main race is scheduled for Sunday in Shanghai, 2:00am eastern time in America.  Live television coverage is now on Apple TV subscription service.

For fans in Fishers and across central Indiana, the progress of the Cadillac team carries special interest. General Motors and its racing partners are building the Cadillac Formula 1 team’s headquarters in Fishers, a facility expected to house engineering, technical development, and racing operations as the team expands its presence in the sport.

While the first races of the season have been challenging, the project represents a long-term investment in Formula 1—and a high-profile connection between the global racing series and the growing motorsports footprint in Fishers.

There is more to check out this week on the Fishers area road construction report.  Closures and lane restrictions adds up to a growing list, including the start of the project improving Allisonville Road and 116th Street.

Below is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers.

Continue reading Weekly Fishers Road Construction Report →

Friday night’s matchup between the Indy Fuel and the Fort Wayne Komets was more than the usual intrastate rivalry.

Fort Wayne is chasing the Toledo Walleye for the top spot in the ECHL’s Western Conference Central Division, while the Fuel are trying to hold onto third place in the same division. On Friday, it was the Fuel who strengthened their grip on that position with a 2-1 victory over the Komets.

All of the Fuel’s offense came from one player — Tyler Weiss.

Weiss scored his first goal eight minutes into the third period on a power play, tying the game at 1-1. The Komets had taken the lead midway through the second period when Mathew Brown found the back of the net.

With the score tied and the clock winding down, the crowd of more than 6,000 at the Fishers Event Center appeared headed for overtime. Instead, Weiss struck again, scoring the game-winning goal with just 12.8 seconds remaining in regulation.

Fort Wayne called a timeout in an attempt to set up one final scoring opportunity, but the Komets were unable to convert before time expired.

Mitchell Weeks turned in another stellar performance, with the Komets getting 30 shots on goal compared to the Fuel’s 16.

There was a brief delay at the start of the second period when an issue was discovered with the door to one of the penalty boxes. After several minutes of repairs, play resumed without further incident.

During the opening ceremonies, the Fuel also unveiled a display located in a corner of the Fishers Event Center honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action. The display features an empty chair symbolizing POW and MIA service members, flanked by American and POW-MIA flags.

Artists and makers from across the community will gather at the Fishers Library later this month for a day dedicated to creativity and innovation.

Ignite Studio, the makerspace at the Hamilton East Public Library (HEPL), will host its third annual Make-Off on Saturday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event invites selected artists to create an original piece of art using the studio’s equipment, kits and in-house materials.

Competitors will have six hours to complete their works, with judges awarding cash prizes for first, second and third place. This year’s theme is mixed media, encouraging artists to combine a variety of materials and techniques in a single piece. The competition begins at 9 a.m., with winners announced during an awards presentation scheduled for 4 p.m.

Library patrons are encouraged to stop by throughout the day to watch artists at work and take part in a variety of hands-on activities designed for visitors of all ages.

“The Fishers Make-Off is a chance to showcase artists who find unique and creative ways to use the materials and resources at Ignite Studio and provide inspiration to patrons in their own art making,” said HEPL Arts Engagement Coordinator Kris Hurst. “This event highlights artistic expression as a form of storytelling and connection, central to the library’s mission.”

Several activities will be offered for visitors during the event. The first 50 guests will receive free art kits. Other opportunities include mini collage kits that allow participants to create their own mixed-media artwork with a shadowbox frame, a collaborative assemblage wall where visitors can add shapes and textures to a community art display, and a metallic mandala activity featuring layered materials.

A Public Maker Challenge will also take place from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants ages 8 and older can learn the Chine-collé printmaking technique, which combines printed images with thin papers to create a mixed-media artwork. Awards will be presented in youth, teen, adult and family categories. Registration is required to participate in the challenge.

Ignite Studio is located on the lower level of the Fishers Library and serves as a community makerspace and art studio where patrons can explore creative tools, collaborate with others and experiment with new forms of artistic expression.

More information about the event and Ignite Studio is available at ignite.hamiltoneastpl.org.

Motorists traveling through one of Fishers’ busiest west-side intersections should prepare for construction later this spring as the city moves forward with roadway improvements at 116th Street and Allisonville Road.

City officials say construction on the project is expected to begin on or after March 30 and continue through October 2026. The work is aimed at improving traffic flow and safety at the heavily traveled crossing, which serves as a key north-south gateway into Fishers from Indianapolis and Carmel.

Originally, the project called for the construction of a roundabout. However, after updated traffic studies and additional analysis, the city decided to move in a different direction. Instead of a roundabout, crews will realign the eastbound approach of 116th Street and adjust pavement markings at the intersection to better accommodate traffic, particularly vehicles turning north onto Allisonville Road.

City officials say the revised design should help keep traffic moving more efficiently without requiring the larger reconstruction that a roundabout would have required.

The intersection sits along the Allisonville Road corridor, an area the city has identified for long-term improvements as part of broader redevelopment and mobility efforts on the west side of Fishers. The corridor includes nearby investments such as the new roundabout at 96th Street and Allisonville Road, upgrades to signal systems, beautification efforts, and new commercial development.

During construction, drivers can expect lane shifts, restrictions, and slower travel through the intersection, particularly during peak commuting hours. However, both the intersection and nearby businesses will remain open throughout the project, according to city officials.

As with most roadway projects in Indiana, work schedules may shift depending on weather conditions.

Fishers officials say the improvements should help the intersection accommodate projected traffic volumes for years to come, providing a safer and more efficient route for drivers traveling through the area.

The intersection of 116th Street and Allisonville Road was built in the late 1990s and has experienced steadily increasing traffic as Fishers has grown into one of the fastest-growing communities in Indiana, with a population approaching 107,000 residents.

When completed in the fall of 2026, city leaders say the project will represent another step in modernizing key transportation corridors across Fishers while supporting continued growth on the city’s west side.

Saturday’s matchup between the Fishers Freight and the Quad City Steamwheelers will not only open the Freight’s second season—it will also be the first Indoor Football League game played anywhere in 2026.

With the Freight the only team in action Saturday, the 5 p.m. kickoff at the Fishers Event Center will likely draw attention across the league.

A strong crowd is expected for the home opener. The central question heading into the season is simple: how much success can the Freight achieve in their second year?

Expansion teams often face difficult first seasons. By the time coach Dixie Wooten was hired to lead the Freight in their inaugural campaign, other IFL teams had already spent months signing players. Even so, the Freight won their first two games.

Roster instability—particularly at quarterback—soon followed and contributed to a nine-game losing streak. But despite being out of playoff contention late in the season, Wooten continued reshaping the roster. The result was a five-game winning streak to close the year.

That late surge helped establish a foundation for 2026. Fifteen players who were part of that closing run remain on the roster this season. Wooten said at the end of last year he hoped to bring most of those players back, and largely succeeded.

Quarterback Felix Harper, who helped lead the late-season turnaround, returns to guide the offense. Wooten is also enthusiastic about his offensive line, highlighted by the addition of Navaughn Donaldson, ranked the top offensive lineman in the IFL last season.

Josiah King, whom Wooten calls the “best running back in the league,” also returns for 2026.

Special teams could again be a strength. Wooten is pleased to have kicker Calum Sutherland back after he joined the team during the 2025 season and quickly became a key contributor. In the indoor game, the kicking unit often plays a critical role.

The Freight’s biggest challenge may come on defense. Wooten invited 21 defensive players to training camp—more than usual—to create intense competition for roster spots. The players on the field Saturday are those who made the final cut.

Meanwhile, the league has clarified its television broadcast arrangements for the 2026 season.

About half of all IFL games will be carried on Yahoo Sports. Saturday’s season opener in Fishers, along with the Freight’s March 21 road game at Green Bay, will stream there. The service is free but requires access through one of several platforms, including YahooSports.tv in a web browser, The Roku Channel, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus, Plex, Vizio WatchFree+, Fubo, Sling Freestream and, in some markets, YouTube TV.

Games not carried on Yahoo Sports will stream on Overnght (spelled without the “i,” though pronounced “overnight”). The service focuses largely on Olympic-style sports and costs about $12 per month.

Fans can subscribe through Overnght.com or the Overnght mobile app and search the platform for specific IFL games.

With a stronger returning core and renewed expectations, the Fishers Freight enter the 2026 season hoping their late-season momentum from a year ago will carry them to a playoff berth in their second season in the Indoor Football League.

The Hamilton County Community Band has become a familiar musical presence across the county, offering audiences a chance to hear live concert band performances from a group made up entirely of volunteer musicians.

On this week’s episode of Fridays with Larry, I talk with Brian Wuerch, who handles announcing and public relations for the Hamilton County Community Band. We discuss how the group brings together musicians from around Hamilton County, the types of concerts they perform, and how the band continues to provide accessible live music for local communities.

The conversation also touches on the band’s upcoming performances and how residents can attend or even become involved with the organization.

I also discuss the situation at Hamilton Southeastern Schools that has led to a a lot of conversation in the Fishers area.

The Fridays With Larry podcast is sponsored by Citizens State Bank.

You can watch the video version of the podcast using this link or just listen at this link.  You can also use the links below.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness has endorsed Fishers City Councilor Tiffanie Ditlevson in her campaign for the Indiana State Senate District 31 seat.

The endorsement was announced Thursday in a campaign press release issued by Ditlevson’s campaign.

In the statement, Fadness described Ditlevson as a “proven, results-focused leader” who has demonstrated compassion and consistent engagement with the community.

“Tiffanie is the kind of leader who is consistently engaged with the community she serves,” Fadness said in the release. “She shows up, listens to residents, and works through issues with a compassionate, practical approach. That kind of constituent-focused leadership will serve Fishers well at the Statehouse.”

Ditlevson currently serves as an at-large member of the Fishers City Council. She is also a former U.S. Air Force major and combat veteran. Her campaign has emphasized what she describes as “common-sense conservative leadership,” with priorities that include protecting taxpayers, supporting Indiana families, preserving local control for communities, and ensuring state investments in infrastructure and education deliver value for residents.

“I’m honored to have Mayor Fadness’ support,” Ditlevson said in the campaign statement. “He has led Fishers through tremendous growth while maintaining a strong focus on quality of life, responsible planning, and strong public safety. I’m proud to serve our community alongside him.”

Ditlevson said her campaign is focused on bringing experience and accountability to the Statehouse, noting her background in both military service and public office.

“I’ve been accountable to voters across this community, worked on the local issues that directly affect families and neighborhoods, and led in both military service and public office,” she said. “I’m running to be a strong, credible voice for District 31 and to fight for responsible government, safe communities, and a stronger future for the next generation.”

In the same statement, Ditlevson said she believes she brings a unique set of qualifications to the race, including elected municipal experience and service as a combat veteran.

Indiana Senate District 31 includes portions of Fishers and surrounding areas in Hamilton County. The seat is currently held by Republican Kyle Walker.

Hamilton Southeastern School Board member Juanita Albright is also a candidate in this Republican primary election, along with Travis Hankins and Jan Kepley Keefer.

A dramatic shift in weather moved into the Fishers area Thursday, bringing sharply colder temperatures and strong winds in the forecast that prompted a Wind Advisory from the National Weather Service.

The advisory will be in effect from 5am until 8 p.m. Friday for much of central Indiana, including Hamilton County.

Forecasters say southwest winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour are expected throughout Friday, with gusts reaching as high as 50 miles per hour. The strongest winds are expected across north central Indiana, though the Fishers area is also experiencing significant gusts.

The windy conditions follow a steep drop in temperatures from Wednesday, making it feel noticeably colder across the region.

According to the National Weather Service, the strong winds could blow around unsecured outdoor objects and may break tree limbs. Isolated power outages are also possible if limbs fall onto power lines.

Drivers are urged to use extra caution, particularly those operating high-profile vehicles such as trucks, vans and SUVs. Strong crosswinds can make steering more difficult on open roads and highways.

Residents are also encouraged to secure outdoor furniture, trash containers and other loose items that could be carried by the wind.