INDIANAPOLIS — The 2 names atop the pace charts Thursday got here as little shock on the ultimate day of the Indianapolis 500 Open Take a look at, which featured two segments with distinct engine efficiency setups.
Final 12 months’s Indy 500 pole winner Scott McLaughlin was quickest through the morning session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, that had vehicles utilizing the identical elevated turbo increase ranges as Quick Friday observe Could 16 and PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on Could 17-18.
McLaughlin’s prime lap was 232.686 mph within the No. 3 Pennzoil Group Penske Chevrolet, the quickest journey across the 2.5-mile oval in two days of testing this week.
“We had a extremely good day, a superb couple of days,” McLaughlin stated. “(I) felt like we received via so much from a hybrid perspective.
“Then I felt just like the morning qualifying session – the high-boost session – was a little bit of a crapshoot. (There have been a) couple yellows. When the observe received higher, it was a bit soiled from among the shunts, as properly. Then everybody was attempting to cram so much into 40 minutes. However general, a extremely stable (automotive) stability to kick off the month of Could.”
Three-time and two-time reigning NTT IndyCar Collection champion Alex Palou topped the pace charts through the afternoon session, which featured increase ranges lowered to the identical ranges that might be used on race day for the 109th Indianapolis 500 on Could 25.
Present championship chief Palou’s prime lap within the afternoon was 223.993 within the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
“It’s worthwhile to carry on all the time chasing it and attempting to make it higher,” Palou stated. “Making an attempt to make it extra snug when working in visitors, attempting to make it quicker if you’re alone. That’s the automotive that provides me an opportunity (to win), for positive.”
Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato was second quickest within the “boosted” session within the morning together with his lap of 232.565 mph within the No. 75 AMADA Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Sato’s lap additionally was the quickest of the take a look at with out the good thing about an aerodynamic “tow” from the slipstream of a number one automotive.
However Sato’s glory was short-lived and confirmed the dangers of dwelling on the sting of a lightning bolt with vehicles in difficult, low-downforce, high-boost qualifying setups. Sato had accomplished simply eight laps within the morning session, together with his finest lap on Lap 3, when his automotive made heavy contact with the SAFER Barrier in Flip 1 and got here to a cease in Flip 2 with heavy harm.
2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Energy was third within the “boosted” session at 232.278 within the No. 12 Verizon Group Penske Chevrolet, adopted by Felix Rosenqvist at 232.100 within the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda fielded by Meyer Shank Racing. Palou rounded out the highest 5 at 231.843.
All however two of the 34 vehicles on observe returned to working in thickets of visitors within the afternoon session to simulate race day.
Palou and Rosenqvist have been the one drivers within the prime 5 in each classes at the moment, as Rosenqvist backed up his sturdy efficiency with further increase by ending up second within the afternoon with a finest lap of 223.366.
Lengthy Seaside winner Kyle Kirkwood was third within the afternoon session at 223.362 within the No. 27 Andretti World Honda. Conor Daly was fourth at 223.298 within the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, whereas two-time reigning “500” winner Josef Newgarden rounded out the highest 5 at 223.255 within the No. 2 Shell V-Energy NiTRO+ Group Penske Chevrolet.
Sato wasn’t the one driver to contact the SAFER Barrier Thursday. 2024 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the 12 months Kyle Larson additionally crashed within the morning session, hitting the SAFER Barrier in Flip 1 within the No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet earlier than secondary contact in Flip 2.
Over two days of testing, the 34 drivers mixed to show 5,804 laps, or 14,510 miles.
