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2025 MONTH OF MAY AT INDIANAPOLIS

Saturday May 24th

2025 Indianapolis 500 Preview and Predictions

The 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 takes place this Sunday, May 25, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the most dramatic editions in recent memory. With a rookie claiming pole, seasoned champions scattered across the grid, and a major setback for Team Penske, the stage is set for an unpredictable and thrilling battle at the Brickyard.

Robert Shwartzman, in his debut IndyCar season, shocked the paddock by capturing pole position with a blistering four-lap average of 232.790 mph. Starting alongside him are experienced rival Takuma Sato, a two-time Indy 500 winner, and Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, who has come close in recent years. It’s a front row that tells a compelling story of youth versus experience.

Team Penske’s fortunes took a stunning downturn. Josef Newgarden and Will Power were relegated to the back row (32nd and 33rd respectively) after failing technical inspection. Their demotion upended race strategies across the board. Scott McLaughlin, another Penske driver, will start 10th despite setting the fastest lap on Friday at 233.954 mph before a brush with the wall during qualifying.

Race Front-Runners and Key Contenders

Shwartzman’s pole-winning form impressed many, but the real test begins once the green flag flies and the field barrels into turn one. His fast PREMA Racing Chevrolet performed well in clean air, but handling in traffic remains a question mark. Lining up beside him areTakuma Sato (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda) 232.478 mph and Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) 232.098 mph

The second row brings formidable talent used to managing long green-flag runs Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Honda) 232.052 mph Felix Rosenqvist (Meyer Shank Honda) 231.987 mph Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Honda) 231.378 mph

Dixon enters the race after topping Fast Friday speeds and remains one of the most consistent performers at Indy. Palou is in red-hot form, having won four of the season’s first five races, including the Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indy road course. O’Ward has two recent second-place finishes in this race and is hungry for redemption. Rosenqvist has quietly become a contender, showing top-five speed in every practice session.

Further back, NASCAR star Kyle Larson will make 2nd Indy 500 from 19th on the grid. Driving a joint Hendrick/Arrow McLaren entry, Larson showed poise during practice and posted a top speed of 224.811 mph in race trim. He’s expected to gain ground as the race pace settles.

Team Penske’s Challenges

Scott McLaughlin showed immense one-lap pace but starts from 10th after a qualifying mishap. Meanwhile, defending champion Josef Newgarden and 2018 winner Will Power face a daunting task from the final row. Their cars showed excellent speed in traffic drills, but overtaking 30+ rivals will require flawless execution and likely the help of multiple caution periods.

Palou’s dominant form justifies his spot atop the oddsboard. Though he hasn’t cracked the Indy 500 code just yet, his consistency and recent success make him a popular pick. O’Ward is also a serious threat, having nearly won the race twice in three years.

Shwartzman’s reflect the skepticism around rookies converting pole into a win – it’s happened just six times since 2000. Dixon offers strong value at +650 due to his unmatched fuel-saving skills and six top-five finishes at the 500 since 2013. Sato, known for his aggressive late moves, could thrive with the current aero setup, while Rosenqvist’s odds may be undervalued considering his impressive run of form this month.

Other longshot considerations include Andretti’s Colton Herta , who underwhelmed in qualifying but has shown excellent race pace in the past, and the legendary Helio Castroneves who’s chasing a record-breaking fifth Indy 500 win

FRIDAY MAY 23RD

Newgarden Takes Top Spot in Final Indianapolis 500 Practice, Wins Pit Stop Challenge

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 23, 2025) – Josef Newgarden is aiming to write two chapters of history Sunday in the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, and if his performance in Miller Lite Carb Day final practice is any indication, he just may have the car to do it.

Newgarden led the final practice for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” with a top lap of 225.687 mph in the No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Team Penske Chevrolet. Newgarden is trying to become the first driver to win three consecutive Indianapolis 500s, and he’ll need to do it from the deepest starting spot in the field of any “500” winner ever.

SEE: Practice Results

Two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Newgarden is starting the race in the 32nd position in the 33-car field after he and Team Penske teammate Will Power were moved to the rear of the field Monday due to an attenuator on their respective cars that violated INDYCAR rules Sunday during PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying. The record for the deepest starting spot of a “500” winner is 28th, by Ray Harroun in the inaugural race in 1911 and Louis Meyer in 1936.

“Good final run here,” Newgarden said. “Excited to check the car off again and work with the team. I’m really excited for Sunday. The main show. Everything we work for.”

Newgarden swept the day, as he and his Team Penske crew also won the Oscar Mayer $150,000 Pit Stop Challenge for the second consecutive year.

Two-time “500” winner Takuma Sato was second at 225.415 in the No. 75 AMADA Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, but that speed perhaps came at a cost. His car slowed on the backstretch of the 2.5-mile oval late in the session with an apparent problem, triggering the last of two caution periods. Sato’s machine stopped on the deceleration lane between Turns 3 and 4 before it was placed inside the retaining wall in that area.

Sato is starting second in the race (10 a.m. ET Sunday, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

“I would say we weren’t entirely happy with (car setup) yet, but we were making good progress,” Sato said. “We were pointing in the right direction, so I want to check all the data. We had a mechanical failure on the last run and lost performance on one side of the car. It’s too early for me to say what that was until the team investigates it, but I almost lost control in Turn 1, and we are just fortunate I didn’t hit anything.”

Six-time series champion Scott Dixon ended up third at 225.200 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Dixon, aiming for his second “500” win and first since 2008, is starting fourth.

Devlin DeFrancesco, starting 16th, jumped to fourth in the two-hour final practice at 224.778 in the No. 30 Dogecoin Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Power, starting 33rd, rounded out the top five at 224.419 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.

Pole sitter Robert Shwartzman, the first “500” rookie to claim the top starting spot since 1983, was 29th at 220.987 in the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Team Penske both put two cars in the top five in a session that featured thick packs of traffic but also mechanical problems for a handful of drivers.

Sato wasn’t the only RLL driver to face mechanical trouble, as Graham Rahal’s trying month continued when his No. 15 United Rentals Honda was returned to Gasoline Alley after just 45 minutes. 2016 “500” winner Alexander Rossi lost time on track with a water leak in his No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet.

The first caution of the final practice was triggered just past the halfway point when flames erupted from the back of 2014 Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay’s No. 23 DRR CUSICK WEDBUSH SECURITIES Chevrolet on the backstretch. Hunter-Reay guided the stricken car to the top of pit lane before he scurried from the car and surveyed the damage as the AMR INDYCAR Safety Team extinguished the flames.

In the Oscar Mayer $150,000 Pit Stop Challenge, Newgarden beat Power in an all-Team Penske final that required all three rounds. Newgarden’s crew won the first round, Power’s the second.

But in the final round, the No. 2 crew changed four tires and completed a simulated fueling in 10.263 seconds, while Power and the No. 12 crew trailed at 10.503. The No. 2 crew earned a $50,000 prize, with the No. 12 crew collecting $25,000.

This was the record-extending 20th victory in the annual pit stop contest for Team Penske, and Newgarden became just the fifth driver to win three or more times. The victory could be a good omen for Newgarden, who last year became the first driver to sweep the pit stop contest and the “500” in the same year since Helio Castroneves in 2009, also for Team Penske.

INDYCAR To Hold Special Session Saturday for DRR-Cusick Motorsports Entry

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 23, 2025) – INDYCAR has announced a special session Saturday, May 24 for the No. 23 DRR-Cusick Motorsports entry after changing a chassis following a fire during today’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge Miller Lite Carb Day practice.

The 15-minute session will take place from 8:30-8:45 a.m. ET in preparation for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500. The No. 23 will only be allowed install laps (out and in) within the time frame. The car will not be allowed to stay on the track to cross the start-finish line and the Yard of Bricks.

The Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 25 (10 a.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

Odds and Ends

“Slaw Dog” passed “Chi Dog” just before the checkered flag at the Yard of Bricks to win the “Wienie 500” race among all six Oscar Mayer Weinermobiles. The two-lap race around the IMS oval earned millions of social media impressions globally and was trending in the United States as the No. 2 event on X immediately after the finish.

The NHL Stanley Cup was on the grounds Friday. Fans were able to get a close look and take pictures in the Fan Midway.

Chip Ganassi Racing team manager Barry Wanser and longtime statistician and historian for INDYCAR television broadcasts Russ Thompson won the Robin Miller Award for longtime dedication and service to INDYCAR SERIES racing.

Pat Caporali, the lead communications representative for Firestone, was honored with the 2025 Jim Chapman Award for excellence in motorsports public relations. Caporali, a former radio and TV reporter in Montreal, has worked for several race teams and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Fifteen of the last 16 Indianapolis 500s were won by drivers 32 years of age or older. Rossi was 24 when he won the 100th Running in 2016 as the lone exception.

Thursday may 22nd

WHO WILL WIN THE 109TH INDIANAPOLIS 500 (part 2 of 3)

by Terry Daniels

below are the top 11 drivers with what i will say will win the indianapolis 500

my favorite to win the 109th indianapolis 500 will be starting from the last row due for his car being disqualified on pole day starting him in the last row will make it a very exciting race watching in and his team mate make their way thru the field

we have a rookie on the pole competing in his first oval race with a very fast race car however he has no experience of racing one

we have eight former winners Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Alexander Rossi, Takuma Sato

with a total 13 indianapolis 500 victories and the most competitive field in years

this is any bodies race to win

+500	Josef Newgarden	2023 2024 winner car was disqualified on sunday before qualifying forced to start in last row going for a threepeat if he is around at the he will win
+500	Alex Palou	has dominated 2025 season winning 4 of first five races however never has won a oval track race could indy be his first
+550	Pato O'Ward	Bridesmaid last year passed in 3rd turn of last lap for lead could this be his year I would not count him out he wants the winn
+650	Scott Dixon	6 time indycar series champion has won indy(2008) has been quiet however fast all month this could be the year he deserves another win
+650	Takuma Sato	2 time winner (2017)(2020) only asain born driver to win drives on the edge could possible join the three time winners club
+700	Helio Castroneves	only four time winner (2001) 2002) (2009) (2021) only participates at indianapolis in his 25th race he could very easily be the first five time winner
+750	Robert Shwartzman	first rookie to start on the pole since 1983 had never competed on a oval track till indy however no rookie starting on the pole has won the race
+750	Will Power	2018 winner and alwats a treat disqualified on sunday before qualifying will satrt in last row will make the race exciting moving up thru the field
+800	Marcus Ericsson	2022 winner and runner up in 2023 finished in last place last year after accident on first lap of race he could be a darkhorse
+800	Felix Rosenqvist	Meyer Shank Racing driver has success on race day should be a treat has equipment and the knowlwdge to win do not count him out
+800	Alexander Rossi	won the 100th indianapolis 500 (2016) with a new team ed Carpenter Racing knows how to go fast at indy could win again do not count him out

wednesday may 21st

Penske fires top 3, including Tim Cindric, from IndyCar organization as part of cheating scandal

Roger Penske said in a statement Wednesday, “nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport and our race teams.”

Roger Penske has fired team president Tim Cindric, IndyCar managing director Ron Ruzewski and IndyCar general manager Kyle Moyer in the wake of an Indianapolis 500 cheating scandal

WHO WILL WIN THE 109TH INDIANAPOLIS 500 (part 2 of 3)

BY TERRY DANIELS

with the announcment of team penske firing president Tim Cindric, IndyCar managing director Ron Ruzewski and IndyCar general manager Kyle Moyer in the wake of an Indianapolis 500 cheating scandal. My predictions have not changed much at all

there all long shots in this group including a former winner a nascar cup champion and the son of a former winner and several second generation drivers

There are a couple rookies in this group in the right equipment however will be on a major curve to run at the front in the 500

a driver in this group and with predictions of cool temperatures on sunday i remember 1992 on a similar cool day when everything happened

+850	Scott McLaughlin	last year's pole winner fast all month driving for Team Penske could be a dark horse definitely has the equipment and team to win take a chance never know
+1000	Ryan Hunter-Reay	2022 winner and former indycar champion Captain America only has a one race deal at indy seems like he never breaks could be top 10
+1000	Christian Lundgaard	arrow Mclaren driver was 8th fastest qualifier has the equipment and now the ability to be a top 3 finisher may surprise many on sunday
+1000	Kyle Larson	2021 nascar cup champion has not been the quickest however has won here in 2024 Brickyard 400 drivin for arrow Mclaren say no more
+1050	Colton Herta	Andretti Global driver has had no luck here wrecked saturday however was still able to qualify in the back of the field will be fun to watch him move up
+1100	Santino Ferruci	A.J. Foyt tean driver has beeb quiet this month if he is in the top 5 with 10 laps to go watch out will give it his all to drink the milk in victory lane
+1150	Conor Daly	Noblesville Indiana driver is always fast on raceday could very easy be a top 5 finisher and if the cards fall right the winner
+2000	Graham Rahal	Rahal Letterman Lanigan driver has had the worse up at indy for the last three years however did avoid the last row shooyout this year
+2500	Kyle Kirkwood	could be the dark horse in the field the Andretti Global driver has been quiet all month however could be right there on lap 199 with a chance to win
+3500	Callum Ilott	Prema Racing driver and team mate to the pole car looking just to finish the 500 race should be running at the end possible top 15 finisher
+4000	Louis Foster	Rahal Letterman Lanigan is in his first 500 will drive a conservative race and learn much needed knowledge for nest year

Tuesday May 20Th

WHO WILL WIN THE 109TH INDIANAPOLIS 500 ? (PART ONE OF THREE)

BY TERRY DANIELS

The 109th running of the indianapolis 500 scheduled for this sunday may 25th is as competitive of a field that we have seen for years

with such a level playing field it is hard to determine who will taste the milk in victory lane after the grueling 500 miles are completed

with the disqualification of two if the fastest cars all monthteam penske entrees Josef Newgarden and will power and moving them to start 32nd and 33rd this will make the race more esciting watching these two drivers work there way thru the field and there is no doubts they will

with rookie Robert Shwartzman starting from the pole in his first oval race and Prema Racing competing their first indianapolis 500 and no rookie has ever won the indianapolis 500 starting from the pole

below are the bottom third of the Indianapolis 500 starting field these drivers are all proven winners in of other types of motorsports however just lack what we believe has what is takes to win this year's Indianapoliis 500

+5000	Rinus VeeKay	Has been fast here in the past however with a new team Dale Coyne Racing has struggled could be around at the end possible top 10 finish
+5500	David Malukas	Drives for legend A.J. Foyt has Been fast this month however 500 miles is a long distance could be around at the end however top 15
+6000	Ed Carpenter	local driver that owns his own team has set on the pole multiple times before only race he participates in always seems to be around at the end
+6000	Jack Harvey	Fox sports indy car announcer only scheduled race for 2025 driving for a team that only runs indy would not take a chance on him
+15000	Nolan Siegel	arrow/mclaren driver has the equipment however lacks the experience could be a huge surprise on race day don't count on it though
+15000	Sting Ray Robb	has best race car driver name however with with a new team Juncos Hollinger Racing driver may be around at the end however not competing to win
+20000	Devlin DeFrancesco	Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver the team has not been competitive here for the last three year team needs to make major improvements
+20000	Kyffin Simpson	Chip Ganassi Racing driver has the equipment to win however lacks the oval track experience has however improved from 2024
+25000	Christian Rasmussen	ed Carpenter Racing driver team has not had the best month of may 7th row starter has never one the 500 and will not start this year
+25000	Marco Andretti	Andretti Global driver Has the name however also has the curse he will make his way to the front then will have his traditional bad luck
+25000	Marcus Armstrong	competed in last row shoot out driving for Meyer Shank Racing1st day qualification accident set him and the team a ways back quite a bii

.Odds and Ends

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing announced Tuesday that Fleet Cost & Care has expanded its partnership to include a second race as primary sponsor for Rahal. He will carry the white and green colors on his No. 15 Honda for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on Sunday, June 1. Fleet Cost & Care was the primary sponsor of the No. 15 Honda driven by Rahal at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 13.

Several admitted many laps were turned on used Firestone Firehawk tires during practice Monday. The rubber was worn from qualifying simulation runs last week, making them unsuitable to use in the 200-lap race Sunday. But there was still some tire life remaining, so Monday’s practice provided an ideal use case.

Monday May 19th

Palou Fastest in Return to Race Trim in Indy 500 Practice

Monday May 19TH...Three-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou returned to the top of the speed charts Monday in 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice, as drivers and teams focused on race setups after two fast and feverish days of qualifying.

Series points leader Palou, who has won four of the first five races this season, led at 226.765 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda as drivers ran in thick packs of traffic around the 2.5-mile oval, a marked contrast from the solo contests of pure speed during the last two days of PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying. Palou will start sixth in the race Sunday, May 25.

SEE: Practice Results

”A great day for the No. 10 DHL Honda,” Palou said. “Back to traffic running, and the car felt really good. We ended up P1. It doesn’t mean much, but you always take a P1 in any session at the Speedway.

“I’m feeling really comfortable. There’s still a lot of work to do, and I guess for everybody else, as well. It’s not easy to be in traffic and overtake, but I’m really comfortable. I’m able to overtake. I’m ready for Carb Day.”

This was the last on-track session until the final two-hour practice before Race Day, Miller Lite Carb Day this Friday. That session takes place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., followed by the annual Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

Four-time “500” winner Helio Castroneves was second at 226.441 in the No. 06 Cliffs Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian. Castroneves, starting 22nd, is attempting to become the first driver to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” five times.

Two-time “500” winner Takuma Sato was third at 226.087 in the No. 75 AMADA Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Sato, 48, or Castroneves, 50, would become the oldest winner in “500” history this Sunday (10 a.m. FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

Jack Harvey, who will start 26th, jumped to fourth in race setup at 226.048 in the No. 24 DRR CUSICK INVEST Chevrolet, the fastest Chevy-powered driver of the day. His teammate, 2014 “500” winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, rounded out the top five at 225.969 in the No. 23 DRR CUSICK WEDBUSH SECURITIES Chevrolet.

Shock pole winner Robert Shwartzman, a “500” rookie in his first-ever oval race, ended up 26th at 222.561 in the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet.

The two-hour practice took place under partly cloudy skies and air temperatures in the mid-70s. There was one incident, 12 minutes into the session, involving Christian Rasmussen of Ed Carpenter Racing.

Rasmussen made light contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2. His No. 21 ECR Splenda Chevrolet then wobbled and spun into the grass on the backstretch and made secondary contact with the inside wall. The car suffered minor damage. Rasmussen was unhurt.

INDYCAR Update on Team Penske Technical Violations

INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, May 19, 2025) – Yesterday, INDYCAR’s focus was ensuring that the series had all the facts related to the discovery of the modified attenuators on the Team Penske entries of Nos. 2 and 12 to verify they were in violation of INDYCAR Rule 14.7.8.16. After the series confirmed the technical infraction, by rule, the violating cars were placed in the last positions of the qualifying session for which they qualified.

Upon further review last night and early this morning, INDYCAR will be moving cars No. 2 and 12 to the 32nd and 33rd starting positions for this year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. They will start in order based upon their qualifying times from Saturday.

“The integrity of the Indianapolis 500 is paramount, and this violation of the INDYCAR rule against modification to this part and using it ‘as supplied’ is clear,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “The penalty should be more than simply starting where the cars might have qualified anyway, if given the opportunity. The cars belong in the field as two of the fastest 33; however, starting on the tail of the field is the appropriate penalty in this instance.”

Car No. 3 did not attempt to qualify Sunday in the Top 12 because of an accident in the earlier afternoon’s practice. Upon review of the car, and INDYCAR impounding the No. 3 attenuator, INDYCAR found that the car was in fact using a legal and unmodified attenuator. Therefore, car No. 3 will start in the 10th spot – the final spot of those who had qualified to participate in the Top 12.

Additionally, INDYCAR is suspending the team strategists for the Nos. 2 and 12 for the remainder of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, both cars will forfeit Indianapolis 500 qualification points and each entry has been fined $100,000.

Car Nos. 2 and 12 also will forfeit their pit positions and will select their pit boxes after the remainder of the field has an opportunity to adjust accordingly.

“The positive momentum around the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500 has been on a steep crescendo over the last several months, and we want it to be clear that our intent is to maintain that momentum and discourage teams from putting INDYCAR in positions where it calls into the integrity of our officiating and the levelness of the playing field,” Boles said. “As we look to the remainder of the week and the race this weekend, we will do everything we can to make it clear that this is not only the best racing on the planet but racing where the best win under completely fair conditions.”

Odds And Ends

Each of the first four rows of Sunday’s race includes at least one “500” winner. Two-time winner Takuma Sato is in the first row, 2008 winner Scott Dixon starts in Row 2, 2022 winner Ericsson is in Row 3, and 2016 winner Alexander Rossi starts in Row 4.

Row 7 consists of last year’s top-finishing rookie, Christian Rasmussen, and 2024 Rookie of the Year Kyle Larson.

The next practice is from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network) on Miller Lite Carb Day.

Sunday May 18th

Shwartzman, PREMA Shock Field, Make History To Win Indianapolis 500 Pole

INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, May 18, 2025) – The fairy tale became reality for Robert Shwartzman and PREMA Racing, as the rookie driver in his first-ever oval race and the first-year NTT INDYCAR SERIES team shocked the field to win the NTT P1 Award for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

Shwartzman, from Tel Aviv, Israel, became the first rookie driver to win the pole since Teo Fabi in 1983. He is just the third rookie to win the pole on track and will be the sixth first-year starter to lead the field to green in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

SEE: Qualifying Results | Starting Lineup

The impossible dream came true when Shwartzman ripped off a four-lap average speed of 232.790 mph in the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet during the Firestone Fast Six. PREMA, which joined the NTT INDYCAR SERIES this season after years of success in European racing, became the first team to claim the “500” pole in its first attempt since Mayer Motor Racing put Tom Sneva on the pole in 1984.

“I was like, ‘This is a dream; it can’t be true,” Shwartzman said. “I don’t know what even to say. The car felt amazing. I can’t thank PREMA and Chevy. Coming here for my first oval race, I would never even expect it to be in this position. It’s unbelievable.”

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato and Pato O’Ward will join Shwartzman on the front row for the race Sunday, May 25 (10 a.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). Sato qualified second at 232.478 in the No. 75 AMADA Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. O’Ward will start third after his Firestone Fast Six run of 232.098 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

The remainder of the Firestone Fast Six participants will comprise the second row. 2008 “500” winner Scott Dixon will start fourth after his run of 232.052 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Felix Rosenqvist qualified fifth at 231.987 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian. Three-time series champion and current points leader Alex Palou, who has won four of the first five races this season, qualified sixth at 231.378 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

This pole was as much incredible as it was improbable. The PREMA team, consisting of Shwartzman and teammate Callum Ilott, completed just 22 laps combined on the opening day of practice Tuesday, May 13 because they were behind on preparations for their first “500” and first oval race.

Shwartzman was 33rd fastest out of the 34 drivers on opening day, improving to only 28th Wednesday and falling to 32nd Thursday. But his car came alive on Fast Friday presented by Turtle Wax after engine boost levels and horsepower were increased, as he ended up 13th.

Then on the first day of PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday, Shwartzman drove into the Top 12 Qualifying session by ending up sixth. He improved to third at 232.008 in the Top 12 Qualifying session earlier today before his stunning run to the pole.

“I have to say big thanks to my engineers,” Shwartzman said. “They did an amazing job, step by step, by improving the car, trying new things. All of these steps that we did were just better, better, better. And then got to a point where the car was really good.”

Marco Andretti, Marcus Armstrong and Rinus VeeKay earned the final three spots in the field in Last Chance Qualifying. Andretti, grandson of 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner Mario Andretti, will start 31st in the No. 98 MAPEI/Curb Honda of Andretti Herta w/Marco & Curb-Agajanian. Armstrong rebounded from a vicious crash Saturday to qualify 32nd at 229.091 in the No. 66 SiriusXM/Root Insurance Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian.

VeeKay was the last driver to earn a spot in the 33-car lineup, qualifying 33rd at 226.913 in the No. 18 askROI Honda of Dale Coyne Racing and hanging on to hope while his rookie teammate, Jacob Abel, fell short of making the field in the last run of the Last Chance Qualifying session. Abel’s last-ditch attempt reached 226.394 in the No. 75 Miller High Life Honda.

“Unfortunately, starting yesterday I’ve been kind of preparing for this a little bit,” Abel said. “Super, super weird situation. We were happy all week long. The No. 51 Miller High Life car was fast. It just seemed like something happened overnight Friday to Saturday, and we just immediately lost speed. And it’s just been getting slower and slower every run.”

There was unexpected drama at the start of the Top 12 Qualifying session when the cars of two remaining Team Penske drivers in the session, Josef Newgarden and Will Power, didn’t make their respective one attempt after a violation of INDYCAR Rule 14.7.8.16, an unapproved body fit on the rear attenuator of the car.

Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin already was relegated to start fourth row for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” after he crashed heavily in Turn 2 during pre-qualifying practice this morning in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet. McLaughlin was unhurt, but the car suffered heavy damage, and the team elected to focus its efforts on getting a car prepared for McLaughlin for practice Monday afternoon.

The three Team Penske drivers will occupy Row 4 on the starting grid based on their four-lap average speeds from the first day of PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday. McLaughlin will start 10th in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet, two-time reigning “500” winner Newgarden 11th in the No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO Team Penske Chevrolet and Power 12th in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.

Up next is a practice session from 1-3 p.m. ET Monday (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

INDIANAPOLIS - Results of qualifying Sunday for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge NTT INDYCAR SERIES event on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with rank, car number in parentheses, driver, engine, time and speed in parentheses:

1. (83) Robert Shwartzman, Chevrolet, 2:34.6459 (232.790 mph)
2. (75) Takuma Sato, Honda, 2:34.8534 (232.478)
3. (5) Pato O'Ward, Chevrolet, 2:35.1069 (232.098)
4. (9) Scott Dixon, Honda, 2:35.1377 (232.052)
5. (60) Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, 2:35.1809 (231.987)
6. (10) Alex Palou, Honda, 2:35.5894 (231.378)
7. (4) David Malukas, Chevrolet, 2:35.4411 (231.599)
8. (7) Christian Lundgaard, Chevrolet, 2:35.6015 (231.360)
9. (28) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 2:35.8347 (231.014)
10. (3) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 2:34.4979 (233.013)
11. (2) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 2:34.5036 (233.004)
12. (12) Will Power, Chevrolet, 2:35.0760 (232.144)
13. (76) Conor Daly, Chevrolet, 2:35.3568 (231.725)
14. (20) Alexander Rossi, Chevrolet, 2:35.3725 (231.701)
15. (8) Kyffin Simpson, Honda, 2:35.4127 (231.641)
16. (20) Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, 2:35.4180 (231.633)
17. (14) Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, 2:35.4453 (231.593)
18. (30) Devlin DeFrancesco, Honda, 2:35.4575 (231.575)
19. (77) Sting Ray Robb, Chevrolet, 2:35.5336 (231.461)
20. (21) Christian Rasmussen, Chevrolet, 2:35.5489 (231.438)
21. (17) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 2:35.6242 (231.326)
22. (45) Louis Foster, Honda, 2:35.8049 (231.058)
23. (90) Callum Ilott, Chevrolet, 2:35.8489 (230.993)
24. (06) Helio Castroneves, Honda, 2:35.8592 (230.978)
25. (27) Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, 2:35.8999 (230.917)
26. (6) Nolan Siegel, Chevrolet, 2:36.1342 (230.571)
27. (23) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Chevrolet, 2:36.2752 (230.363)
28. (24) Jack Harvey, Chevrolet, 2:36.2853 (230.348)
29. (26) Colton Herta, Honda, 2:36.3910 (230.192)
30. (15) Graham Rahal, Honda, 2:36.6152 (229.863)
31. (98) Marco Andretti, Honda, 2:36.6979 (229.741)
32. (66) Marcus Armstrong, Honda, 2:37.1426 (229.091)
33. (18) Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, 2:38.6514 (226.913)

Odds and Ends

Seven of the last eight Indy 500s were won from a top-eight starting spot. The only exception was Newgarden, who started 17th en route to his first win in 2023.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader Alex Palou starts sixth in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. He started sixth and finished second in the 2021 race.

The “500” field average is 231.207, the third-fastest “500” field in history, trailing only 2023 (232.184) and 2024 (231.943).

The cars return to Race Day boost levels Monday with a two-hour practice from 1-3 p.m. ET, airing live on FS1, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

FRIDAY MAY 16TH

McLaughlin, Dixon, Palou Set Rapid Pace on Fraught Fast Friday

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 16, 2025) – Speeds and risk climbed in equal measure on a fraught Fast Friday presented by Turtle Wax, as drivers battled torrid track conditions and gusty winds in the final day of preparations before PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying this weekend for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

2024 “500” pole sitter Scott McLaughlin turned the fastest lap of the day and event, 233.954 mph, in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet on a day when second-year “500” drivers Kyffin Simpson and Kyle Larson both walked away from heavy crashes during qualifying simulations on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.

SEE: Practice Results | Qualifying Format | Qualifying Order

Speeds soared Friday because the Honda and Chevrolet engines that power the field featured approximately 100 more horsepower due to increased boost levels that also will be available this weekend during two days of qualifying.

Air temperatures tickled 90 degrees before thick clouds rolled into Central Indiana later in the afternoon. Firestone engineers measured a mid-afternoon track temperature of 138 degrees in Turn 1, the hottest asphalt they have registered since starting to monitor temperatures in each of the four turns in 2015. Steady winds between 10-20 mph, with higher gusts, increased the challenge for drivers already riding a razor’s edge with lower-downforce qualifying setups.

McLaughlin’s fastest lap came with the benefit of an aerodynamic tow during the first five minutes of the six-hour practice session. But in the final 30 minutes of practice, 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon laid down the second-fastest lap of the day, 232.561, in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda while running alone during a qualifying simulation. Dixon’s four-lap average that included his fastest lap was 232.561, the fastest qualifying simulation of the day.

“It was good,” Dixon said. “The first one (qualifying sim) was very conservative. We were very worried about conditions and obviously what had happened to Kyffin. Glad he’s OK.

“I think there’s still some good speed still left in the car. The car is really smooth, and I’m pretty conservative, as well. So, we’ll see. Who knows what tomorrow is going to bring? I think conditions are going to be pretty tough.”

The first day of PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying takes place from 11 a.m.-5:50 p.m. Saturday (11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., FS1; 1:30-4 p.m., FS2; 4-6 p.m., FOX; FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). A practice session will precede qualifying from 8:30-9:30 a.m., with two 30-minute groups (FS2, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

Positions 13-30 in the starting field will be set Saturday, with the Last Row Shootout, Top 12 and Firestone Fast Six qualifying sessions Sunday afternoon deciding the rest of the 33-car starting grid.

Two-time reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou, who has won four of the first five races this season, was third at 232.528 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. That lap came during a four-lap qualifying sim of 232.307, the second fastest of the day.

Kyle Kirkwood stated his NTT P1 Award ambitions with the fourth-fastest lap, 232.107, during his late-day qualifying sim in the No. 28 Siemens Honda of Andretti Global.

Colton Herta rounded out the top five at 232.066 in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda as the second Andretti Global driver in the top five.

The tricky conditions caught Simpson and Larson in separate accidents.

At 12:50 p.m. ET, Simpson spun in Turn 4 and made hard left-side contact with the SAFER Barrier. His No. 8 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing Honda briefly got airborne, landing on its left side. The car then did a quarter-roll back on its wheels, slid across the track and made secondary light contact with the inside pit wall.

Simpson was unhurt. Chip Ganassi Racing officials confirmed the team is switching to the backup car Simpson drove at the Indianapolis 500 Open Test last month.

At 4:29 p.m., 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Larson got loose in Turn 3 and did a three-quarter spin before making front-end contact with the SAFER Barrier. His No. 17 HendrickCars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet skidded down the track and made secondary rear contact in Turn 4.

Larson also was unhurt. The damage to his car was repaired, and he re-entered the track in the final hour for a shakedown run to ensure the car was running properly.

2024 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Larson is attempting the “double” of racing in the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 25.

The 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 25 (10 a.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

Odds And Ends

Dixon’s wife, Emma, drew his qualifying position for Saturday. He said this was the first time in 23 attempts she pulled the number. Dixon is 14th in the qualifying line Saturday.

Ed Carpenter Racing has 12 consecutive qualifying shootout appearances for “500” qualifying, the longest active streak among NTT INDYCAR SERIES teams.

Chevy-powered drivers swept the front row in 2018 and again in 2019, and Honda then swept the front row and took 11 of the top 12 spots in 2020. Honda had nine of the top 11 qualifiers in 2021 and four of the top six in 2022. Honda won the pole in 2023, but Chevy had eight of the top 12 starters that year. Last year, Chevy had the top eight starters and nine of the top 12.

According to Firestone, the asphalt in Turn 1 was 138 degrees Fahrenheit at 3:15 p.m. That was the highest temperature since Firestone started measuring temperatures in each corner of the track in 2015.

NFL Legend, Lead FOX NFL Analyst Tom Brady in Fastest Seat at Indianapolis 500,Driven by Jimmie Johnson

Seven-Time Super Bowl Champion, Seven-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion
Pair Up for ‘G.O.A.T.’ Drive

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, May 14, 2025) – Tom Brady, the winningest quarterback in NFL history with seven Super Bowl championships and the lead FOX NFL analyst, will ride in the Fastest Seat in Sports at the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, live on FOX. In fitting fashion, the Fastest Seat will be driven by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2022 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Jimmie Johnson.

In addition to his record seven Super Bowl championships, Brady is a five-time Super Bowl MVP (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XLIX, LI, LV), three-time Associated Press Most Valuable Player (2007, 2010, 2017), 15-time Pro Bowler (2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009-2018, 2021), two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2007, 2010), Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year (2009), three-time Associated Press First-Team All-Pro Selection (2007, 2010, 2017), three-time Second-Team All-Pro (2005, 2016, 2021) and Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year (2007).

He was named to the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Brady was a two-time Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (2005, 2021) and winner of the Bert Bell Award (2007), presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the player of the year in the NFL.

Brady joins a long list of celebrated INDYCAR Fastest Seat in Sports passengers as he leads the field to green in a custom INDYCAR SERIES car with a special back passenger seat. This high-speed, high-octane, super-charged thrill ride was taken by FOX MLB analyst and World Series champion Alex Rodriguez to open the season in St. Petersburg and has been taken by music superstars Lady Gaga, Diplo and Jon Bon Jovi, actors Mark Wahlberg and Simu Liu, and more.

Johnson, a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, drove for Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 48 for 19 seasons of his NASCAR career. After he gives Brady the ride of a lifetime, Johnson will fly to Charlotte and make his 700th career series start in the 600-mile event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Johnson is the co-owner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, which fields two entries in the NASCAR Cup Series and one part-time entry for Johnson in the No. 84.

Johnson co-holds the record with Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty for most premier series championships and is the only driver in NASCAR history to win five consecutive titles (2006-10). For two seasons, Johnson competed in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for Chip Ganassi Racing and qualified in the fourth row at the 2022 Indianapolis 500. Johnson is the only race car driver to be named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year (2009), an accomplishment that also ties him to Brady.

“I love the Indy 500,” Johnson said. “There is an energy and excitement around the ‘500’ that is unlike anything I have experienced before. Certainly, pre-race ceremonies are the ultimate racing experience that I’ve had outside of the car. I’m thrilled to be a part of the program and to see the stands full one more time. I’m extremely honored to come back and do it and to be able to also share this experience with another seven-time champion.”

Coverage of the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge begins at 10 a.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes and the FOX Sports app.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is North America’s premier open-wheel racing series with drivers competing at speeds of 200+ mph across a thrilling and demanding set of ovals and road and street circuits. The full schedule is available here.

Odds And Ends

The same four drivers who led the way in Tuesday’s practice were up front on Wednesday. Will Power was first and second, respectively, in practice this week while his teammate Newgarden was second and third. Palou was third and first with his teammate Dixon fourth both days.

Factoring in Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing’s alliance teams in AJ Foyt Racing (Penske) and Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian (Ganassi), they produced seven of the top eight speeds Wednesday. The lone exception was Conor Daly driving the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, who ended up fifth.

Jack Harvey (No. 24 DRR Cusick INVST Chevrolet) and his teammate 2014 “500” winner Ryan Hunter-Reay (No. 23 DRR Cusick Wedbush Securities Chevrolet) have been rapid this week. Harvey was 13th Tuesday and ninth Wednesday. Hunter-Reay was 14th both days.

Arrow McLaren driver Christian Lundgaard, who has been working hard on his golf game, said he has his handicap down to 8.1.

Thursday’s action begins at 10 a.m. ET with a third attempt for Tony Kanaan to complete his refresher test after rain washed out the first two days. All cars are on track from noon-6 p.m. ET for Day 3 of Indianapolis 500 practice.

Monday May 12TH

109th Indianapolis 500 Preview

by Terry Daniels

Will it be three in a row for Newgarden

will palou continue his dominance of the 2025 season with at indy

can arrow McLaren end their drought

once again the gates at 16th and georgetown rd in speedway indiana are open and practice will begin tomorrow for the 109th edition of the indianapolis 500

the 2025 edition has 34 entries so someone will miss the show

Josef Newgarden (2023,2024) IS THE Defending champion and lookingTO THREE-PEAT WITH former winners THAT ARE aiming for a spot in the race this year include four-time winner Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021) and two-time winner Takuma Sato (2017, 2020), plus single winners Scott Dixon (2008), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014), Alexander Rossi (2016), Will Power (2018) and Marcus Ericsson (2022).

The field includes five past INDYCAR SERIES champions: Dixon, Hunter-Reay, Newgarden, two-time reigning champion Alex Palou and Power.

defending INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou HAS WON FOUR OF THE FIRST FIVE RACES IN DOMINATING FASHION WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO BEAT THIS MONTH

PATO O'WARD WHO PASSED Josef Newgarden AT HE START FINISH LINE OF THE LAST LAP TO EVENTALLY BE PASEED BY NEWGARDEN IN THE THIRD TURN AND EVENTUALLY FINISHED SECOND 0.3417 seconds behind him

2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson will attempt for the second straight year to become the fifth driver to complete the Memorial Day “double” of racing in the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day LAST YEAR HE PUT HIS FULL TIME NASCAR RIDE ON HOLD AND STAYED IN INDY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RAIN DELAYED START OF THE 500

Four drivers are competing for Rookie of the Year honors in 2025: Jacob Abel, Louis Foster, Nolan Siegel and Robert Shwartzman.

Winners (8): Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Alexander Rossi, Takuma Sato

Rookies (4): Jacob Abel, Louis Foster, Robert Shwartzman, Nolan Siegel

U.S. drivers (15): Jacob Abel, Marco Andretti, Ed Carpenter, Conor Daly, Santino Ferrucci, Colton Herta, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Kyle Kirkwood, Kyle Larson, David Malukas, Josef Newgarden, Graham Rahal, Sting Ray Robb, Alexander Rossi, Nolan Siegel

International drivers (19, from 13 countries): Marcus Armstrong, Helio Castroneves, Devlin DeFrancesco, Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson, Louis Foster, Jack Harvey, Callum Ilott, Christian Lundgaard, Scott McLaughlin, Pato O’Ward, Alex Palou, Will Power, Christian Rasmussen, Felix Rosenqvist, Takuma Sato, Robert Shwartzman, Kyffin Simpson, Rinus VeeKay

2025 Indianapolis 500 entry list

A.J. Foyt Racing, Chevrolet

No. 4 - David Malukas

No. 14 - Santino Ferrucci

Andretti Global, Honda

No. 26 - Colton Herta

No. 27 - Kyle Kirkwood

No. 28 - Marcus Ericsson

No. 98 - Marco Andretti

Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet

No. 17 - Kyle Larson (with Hendrick Motorsports)

No. 5 - Pato O'Ward

No. 6 - Nolan Siegel

No. 7 - Christian Lundgaard

Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda

No. 8 - Kyffin Simpson

No. 9 - Scott Dixon

No. 10 - Alex Palou

Dale Coyne Racing, Honda

No. 18 - Rinus VeeKay

No. 51 - Jacob Abel

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports, Chevrolet

No. 23 - Ryan Hunter-Reay

No. 24 - Jack Harvey

Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet

No. 20 - Alexander Rossi

No. 21 - Christian Rasmussen

No. 33 - Ed Carpenter

Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet

No. 76 - Conor Daly

No. 77 - Sting Ray Robb

Meyer Shank Racing, Honda

No. 60 - Felix Rosenqvist

No. 66 - Marcus Armstrong

No. 06 - Helio Castroneves

Prema Racing, Chevrolet

No. 83 - Robert Shwartzman

No. 90 - Callum Ilott

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda

No. 15 - Graham Rahal

No. 30 - Devlin DeFrancesco

No. 45 - Louis Foster

Team Penske, Chevrolet

No. 2 - Josef Newgarden

No. 3 - Scott McLaughlin

No. 12 - Will Power

Friday May 9th

Hughes Breaks Through for First INDY NXT Victory at IMS

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 9, 2025) – Rookie Lochie Hughes led all 35 laps of the Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 to earn his first career INDY NXT by Firestone victory on Friday on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

2024 USF Pro 2000 champion Hughes, from Australia, drove his No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship car fielded by Andretti Global to victory by .7229 of a second over the No. 76 HMD Motorsports car of veteran Caio Collet.

SEE: Race Results

“This is an awesome weekend so far,” Hughes said. “I can’t thank the whole team enough. It’s been a tough jump to this series. It’s a big step from what I was in, so I’ve been playing catch-up for a while.

“It’s nice to finally get a win, especially around here. What a day. My parents are here, as well, this weekend, and they’re not usually here, so I think it’s the first time they’ll see me win in a long time because they don’t come over (to America) much. Pretty cool.”

Veteran Myles Rowe finished a career-best third in the No. 99 Abel/Force Indy machine. Callum Hedge (No. 17 Abel Motorsports) and Salvador de Alba (No. 27 Grupo Indi of Andretti Global) rounded out the top five.

Hughes started from the pole and opened a 1.6813-second lead before a caution on Lap 10 when Juan Manuel Correa and Niels Koolen went off course in Turn 1. Hughes then led the field to green on the Lap 12 restart and quickly built a 2.3395-second advantage by the halfway mark on Lap 18. His lead blossomed to 2.6693 seconds before teammate James Roe crashed in Turn 14 on Lap 29, collecting 16-year-old Nikita Johnson and triggering the second and final caution of the race.

Hughes kept the lead on a restart, this time on Lap 31, and held off Collet for victory. Andretti Global has won 12 of the last 14 INDY NXT by Firestone races, dating back to Race 2 of last year’s Indianapolis race weekend.

“I was pretty annoyed when I kept seeing the yellow come out,” Hughes said. “I was just trying to get a good jump off the last corner there and brake late into (Turn) 1 and make sure I don’t get passed.”

Hughes pulled to within three points of series leader and Andretti Global teammate Dennis Hauger with the victory. Hauger, who won the first two races of the season, finished eighth in the No. 28 Rental Group car.

Hauger started second but had contact with Hedge in Turn 1 on the opening lap, forcing his car off track. He returned to the racetrack last in the 21-car field. He steadily climbed through the day and was in 13th at the first caution and eighth by the second yellow.

Race 2 of the doubleheader, another 35-lap contest, starts at 1 p.m. ET Saturday on FS1, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Hughes and Hauger once again will share the front row, with Hughes on the pole.

Palou Pounces at Last Second To Cruise to Sonsio Grand Prix Pole

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 9, 2025) – The Alex Palou Show continued Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, as the dominant leader of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings used deft tire strategy and a fast car to run away with the NTT P1 Award for the Sonsio Grand Prix.

Palou, who has won three of the first four races this season, earned his second straight pole of the year and his second in a row for this race in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. He saved a set of new Firestone Firehawk alternate tires for his last run in the Firestone Fast Six and took the top spot with his final lap of 1 minute, 9.3417 seconds.

SEE: Qualifying Results

“We had a bit of an advantage there with a set of new soft tires,” Palou said. “I think some people used them in Q1 (first round of qualifying), and we didn’t. Maybe that’s where the time comes.

“But that No. 10 DHL car was amazing. Super-fast. It’s been super-fast all season, honestly, but today it’s been on fire.”

It was the eighth career pole for Palou, whose gap to No. 2 qualifier Graham Rahal was a whopping .4099 of a second. Rahal’s best lap was 1:09.7516 in the No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

Rahal led a historic day for RLL, which put three drivers into the Firestone Fast Six for the first time. Rookie Louis Foster qualified a season-best third in the No. 45 Mi-Jack Honda of RLL at 1:09.8801. His previous best was 10th in March at The Thermal Club.

Devlin DeFrancesco kept the good times rolling for RLL by qualifying fifth at 1:09.9432 in the No. 30 EVTEC Honda, tying his career best set in August 2023 on this circuit when he drove for Andretti Global.

“It feels so good,” Rahal said. “What a lap. The balance was really consistent and matched my best of the whole day. It feels great for this entire team. We needed this. We expect to be good at Indy road course, but to see it come together and have three cars in the top five is amazing.”

Scott McLaughlin will start fourth in the 85-lap race Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network) after his best lap of 1:09.8910 in the No. 3 Sonsio Vehicle Protection Chevrolet fielded by Team Penske.

Two-time series champion and two-time reigning Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Josef Newgarden rounded out the Firestone Fast Six with his best lap of 1:09.9829 in the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet.

Five-time IMS road course winner Will Power just missed putting three Team Penske cars into the Firestone Fast Six for the first time this season, as he ended up seventh at 1:09.9973 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.

Second-year driver Kyffin Simpson continued to show his increasing pace in the No. 8 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing Honda by qualifying 10th, tying his career-best starting spot from the race last weekend at Barber Motorsports Park.

Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach winner Kyle Kirkwood, the only driver besides Palou to win this season, qualified a disappointing 21st in the No. 27 PreFab Honda fielded by Andretti Global.

A 25-minute warmup session at 11:30 a.m. Saturday (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network) will precede the race.

Elkin Shines in the Sun at Indy for First USF Pro 2000 Win

gavin baker

SPEEDWAY Ind. – A dramatic first of three races that will make up the VP Racing Grand Prix of Indianapolis saw polesitter Ariel Elkin, from Haifa, Israel, score his maiden USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire victory today for TJ Speed Motorsports on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Grand Prix road course.

Elkin took the lead after New Zealander Jacob Douglas experienced a cruel electrical gremlin on his Pabst Racing entry, then held off Canadian Mac Clark (Exclusive Autosport) in a fight to the finish.

Max Taylor, from Hoboken, N.J., finished a close third for VRD Racing.

Results

Qualifying this morning unearthed a new polesitter as rookie Elkin capitalized on his improving recent form by posting the fastest time in chilly conditions. It was Elkin’s first Continental Tire Pole Award since stepping up directly from USF Juniors over the winter.

Douglas, from third on the grid, took advantage of a huge slipstream effect on the long run to the first corner, only to carry a little too much speed into the apex of the right-handed Turn One. Elkin slipped back past as Douglas ran just a touch wide, albeit able to maintain second place ahead of Taylor, who had started on the outside of the front row.

The first-lap shenanigans continued as Pabst Racing’s points leader Max Garcia, from Coconut Grove, Fla., was elbowed down to ninth after having started fourth. But worse was to befall midfield starters Logan Adams (Comet/NCMP Racing), from Greenfield, Ind., and George Garciarce (DEForce Racing), from Guadalajara, Mexico, who tangled later on the lap to ensure the first of three Safety Car appearances during the 25-lap race.

Immediately after the restart with four laps in the books, Douglas executed a textbook pass for the lead in Turn One, leaving his braking to the last possible moment and slipping through cleanly on Elkin’s inside.

Douglas soon inched out to a small but appreciable advantage, which he held through an ensuing Safety Car interruption following another midfield skirmish, only for his car to abruptly cut out as he exited Turn 14 onto the start/finish straight after 14 laps had been completed.

The Kiwi continued, only for the problem to recur, forcing him into the pits and curtailing any hopes of a top finish.

Elkin gratefully regained the lead and, following another brief interruption, had his work cut out to fend off the attentions of a determined Taylor at the restart with five laps remaining. Taylor found himself out wide at the exit off Turn One, whereupon Clark seized upon the opportunity by driving around the outside of Taylor as they negotiated Turn Two.

Thereafter, Clark kept the pressure on Elkin through the waning stages, but the rookie was up to the task and eventually took the checkered flag just 0.719 of a second to the good.

Taylor, last year’s USF Juniors champion, had to be content with third, while Garcia literally forced his way to a strong fourth ahead of teammate Michael Costello, from Naples, Fla., following a series of tussles with, firstly, title rival Alessandro de Tullio (Turn 3 Motorsport), who came off second best when they made contact at Turn One, and, later, Jace Denmark (TJ Speed), from Brownsburg, Ind.

The incident with Denmark also allowed American-Brazilian Nicholas Monteiro to slip through into a career-best sixth in his first drive with Turn 3 Motorsport. Monteiro took home the Tilton Hard Charger Award after having lined up 16th on the grid.

The PFC Award went to Tim Neff as the winning car owner.

The VP Racing Grand Prix of Indianapolis will continue with two more races tomorrow. The first 25-lapper will start at 9:30 a.m. EDT with the finale set for 2:20 p.m., immediately prior to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES headline event.

Provisional championship points after six of 18 rounds:

1. Max Garcia, 161

2. Alessandro de Tullio, 131

3. Max Taylor, 111

4. Mac Clark, 98

5. Ariel Elkin, 92

6. Jacob Douglas, 88

7. Michael Costello, 85

8. Jace Denmark, 78

9. Nicholas Monteiro, 60

10. Cooper Becklin, 58

Ariel Elkin (#27 Zero Network/Swift Garage-TJ Speed Motorsports Tatuus IP-22): “It was an amazing race. I am very grateful to the TJ Speed crew for giving me an amazing car. It's amazing to clinch pole position and the race one victory. I'm super grateful for the opportunity to be here, and I'm very happy to maximize it. Big thanks to all of the Israeli and Jewish nations from all around the world and to my family.”

Mac Clark (#90 Corpay Cross-Border Solutions/Clubine Motorsports-Exclusive Autosport Tatuus IP-22): “We had a really good first race here in Indianapolis – the greatest place on Earth. The #90 machine was on rails. I mean, P7 to P2, a great way to start our weekend. We beat the two guys that we are trailing in the championship big time, so that's huge for us. We'll look forward to making a few adjustments to the car, but we have a fast car and we're ready to win.”

Max Taylor (#88 PINK/Susan G Komen Foundation/Unicorn-VRD Racing Tatuus IP-22): “A pretty solid weekend so far, qualifying on the front row and then picking up a podium. I think we can work on the car, work on my driving a bit for a little more, but still solid points nonetheless. I almost had the lead there, but still a solid race.”

Exclusive’s Jeffers Powers to Maiden USF2000 Victory

SPEEDWAY, Ind. – Jack Jeffers this afternoon took full advantage of the absence of USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire championship leader Liam McNeilly to score a fine maiden victory in the first of two races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Grand Prix road course that comprise this weekend’s VP Racing Grand Prix of Indianapolis. Jeffers, from San Antonio, Texas, took the lead on the opening lap and pulled away to a relatively comfortable win for Exclusive Autosport.

VRD Racing’s Thomas Schrage, from Bethel, Ohio, finished second for the third race in a row as G3 Argyros, from Newport Beach, Calif., took third for Pabst Racing.

Results

Rookie Teddy Musella, from Orlando, Fla., laid down some stunning laps during the lone qualifying session earlier this morning in chilly conditions to claim his first Continental Tire Pole Award in just his sixth start. Musella’s new mark of 1:24.3272 comfortably eclipsed Braden Eves’ long-standing lap record of 1:24.5396 set back in 2019, and was almost a half-second better than VRD Racing teammate Schrage. Jeffers shared row two of the grid with DEForce Racing’s Colombian Sebastian Garzon.

Musella and Schrage continued to run side by side as they led the 20-car field down the long main straightaway from the rolling start, but unfortunately for Musella, it all went wrong at Turn One as he left his braking just a tad too late and slid off into the damp grass. The entire field swept past before he was able to rejoin.

Schrage led the field along Hulman Drive for the first time, only to lock up his front brakes slightly as he slowed for Turn Seven, which forced him to run wide at the exit. Jeffers needing no second bidding as he romped through into the lead.

After a full-course caution due to an incident on the opening lap, Jeffers remained under pressure for several laps as the top two quickly pulled away from their pursuers. Another error by Schrage on lap 10 gifted Jeffers an extended advantage and left him under no real pressure in the closing stages.

Argyros worked his way neatly from eighth to fourth before the early caution, then vaulted to third, which he maintained until the finish.

Musella, meanwhile, posted a spectacular charge from the tail of the field, setting the fastest lap of the race before deposing Argyros’ teammate, Caleb Gafrarar, from Charlotte, N.C., for fourth place with a couple of laps remaining.

Simon Sikes, the 2023 USF2000 champion from Augusta, Ga., finished sixth after accepting a late opportunity to join Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development, just ahead of Garzon.

Ayrton Houk, from nearby McCordsville, Ind., rose from 13th on the grid to score another top-10 result for his family owned Benchmark Autosport team, while Australian Formula Ford champion Eddie Beswick picked up the Tilton Hard Charger Award for Synergy Motorsport after rising from 16th on the grid to ninth.

Jeffers’ fine drive not only earned a PFC Award for Michael Duncalfe and Joshua Cooley as the winning car owners, it also moved Exclusive Autosport into the lead of the coveted Teams Championship by just one point.

Conspicuous by his absence due to ongoing visa issues, Jay Howard Driver Development’s Liam McNeilly, from London, England, still holds the points lead heading into the seventh round of the USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire season which will see a green flag tomorrow, Saturday, May 10, at 10:30 a.m. EDT, immediately prior to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ race day warmup.

Provisional championship points after six of 18 races:

1. Liam McNeilly, 163

2. Jack Jeffers, 143

3. Thomas Schrage, 120

4. Evan Cooley, 95

5. G3 Argyros, 90

6. Teddy Musella, 86

7. Caleb Gafrarar, 81

8. Sebastian Garzon, 78

9. Jeshua Alianell, 61

10. Ayrton Houk, 61.

Jack Jeffers (#92 Corpay Cross Border Solutions-Exclusive Autosport Tatuus USF-22): “Really good race. I was able to get to the lead on the first lap, and then there was an early Safety Car. But I had a good restart and was able to just build the gap, lead every lap, put some fast laps down and focus on not making mistakes and just hitting my marks. I've known we've had a fast car all along, and it's about hitting my marks and bringing it home. There's really not a word to describe winning at this track, honestly, it's so surreal. It's a feeling that I can't describe, but it's a huge thanks to Exclusive Autosport. They've worked with me continuously so much over the past couple of years to continue to develop me. And it's nice to see our hard work finally pay off. I felt very fulfilled coming into the pit lane and being able to celebrate all the hard work we've done.”

Thomas Schrage (#2 Doug Mockett & Company/Airport Electric Service/Boys & Girls Clubs-VRD Racing Tatuus USF-22): “I was starting on the outside of the front row. It was Teddy's first pole and I wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to do anything over the top. He went off in Turn One, and I tried to hang on to the lead ahead of Jack for as long as I could. At the end of the day, I just wasn't too happy with how I drove. We'll go back at it tomorrow and try and win a race.”

G3 Argyros (#23 Positive Energy/Elephant Cooperation-Pabst Racing Tatuus USF-22): “The race was good. We had a rocky qualifying starting down in eighth. We had the pace through qualifying and then just didn't come with it at the very end. I'm happy that my race experience showed going eighth to fourth at the start and then just working my way up past Simon Sikes and Sebastian Garzon. We held the spot, had a lot of pace and I just can't thank Pabst enough for the great car they gave me all weekend.”

Odds and Ends

Chip Ganassi Racing released its 2025 trading cards last month. The team announced this week that it has partnered with Riley Children’s Foundation during May to donate proceeds from its card sales to benefit the organization. Fans can purchase the cards at com/cgrcards.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Chip Ganassi Racing, the team collaborated with Big Machine Distillery to release Borchetta Bourbon. The bourbon will have a presence on both the No. 9 and No. 10 Honda driven by NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship drivers Scott Dixon and Alex Palou, respectively.

Palou eyes a three-peat, having won the past two Sonsio Grands Prix. Palou could become the first driver to win three straight races at the same track since Josef Newgarden at World Wide Technology Raceway from 2020-22. Palou has five career wins from the pole position, including last Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park.

Six NTT P1 Award winners have won on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course: Palou won the 2024 Sonsio Grand Prix, Will Power won the 2015, 2017, and 2018 Sonsio Grands Prix and the second Harvest GP race in 2020. Simon Pagenaud also won the Sonsio Grand Prix from the pole in 2016.

Chip Ganassi Racing has won three races in a row at the IMS road course.

Since 2020, the eventual series champion has finished on the podium all five years in this event: 2020: Dixon (first), 2021: Palou (third), 2022: Power (third), 2023: Palou (first), 2024: Palou (first).

There have been 339 consecutive green flag laps run this season, including all 65 laps of The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix, the 90-lap Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and for the first time in 15 years, all 90 laps at Barber. The only caution displayed this season came during the first six laps of the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding due to a first-lap crash between Nolan Siegel, Power and rookie Louis Foster. The last three IMS road course races produced one caution each. An IMS road course race has gone caution-free three times, including both races of the October 2020 Harvest Grand Prix doubleheader.

Team Penske won five of the first six Sonsio Grand Prix events. It’s 0-for-5 since but has three of the top seven starters with Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Sonsio Vehicle Protection Chevrolet), Newgarden (No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet) and Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet) starting fourth, sixth and seventh, respectively.

Honda is 4-for-4 this season with Palou’s victories at St. Petersburg, The Thermal Club and Barber Motorsports Park while Andretti Global driver Kirkwood won Long Beach. Honda has produced the last five IMS road course winners, from four different drivers (Herta, Rossi, Palou and Dixon).

Odds and Ends

Chip Ganassi Racing released its 2025 trading cards last month. The team announced this week that it has partnered with Riley Children’s Foundation during May to donate proceeds from its card sales to benefit the organization. Fans can purchase the cards at com/cgrcards.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Chip Ganassi Racing, the team collaborated with Big Machine Distillery to release Borchetta Bourbon. The bourbon will have a presence on both the No. 9 and No. 10 Honda driven by NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship drivers Scott Dixon and Alex Palou, respectively.

Palou eyes a three-peat, having won the past two Sonsio Grands Prix. Palou could become the first driver to win three straight races at the same track since Josef Newgarden at World Wide Technology Raceway from 2020-22. Palou has five career wins from the pole position, including last Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park.

Six NTT P1 Award winners have won on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course: Palou won the 2024 Sonsio Grand Prix, Will Power won the 2015, 2017, and 2018 Sonsio Grands Prix and the second Harvest GP race in 2020. Simon Pagenaud also won the Sonsio Grand Prix from the pole in 2016.

Chip Ganassi Racing has won three races in a row at the IMS road course.

Since 2020, the eventual series champion has finished on the podium all five years in this event: 2020: Dixon (first), 2021: Palou (third), 2022: Power (third), 2023: Palou (first), 2024: Palou (first).

There have been 339 consecutive green flag laps run this season, including all 65 laps of The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix, the 90-lap Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and for the first time in 15 years, all 90 laps at Barber. The only caution displayed this season came during the first six laps of the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding due to a first-lap crash between Nolan Siegel, Power and rookie Louis Foster. The last three IMS road course races produced one caution each. An IMS road course race has gone caution-free three times, including both races of the October 2020 Harvest Grand Prix doubleheader.

Team Penske won five of the first six Sonsio Grand Prix events. It’s 0-for-5 since but has three of the top seven starters with Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Sonsio Vehicle Protection Chevrolet), Newgarden (No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet) and Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet) starting fourth, sixth and seventh, respectively.

Honda is 4-for-4 this season with Palou’s victories at St. Petersburg, The Thermal Club and Barber Motorsports Park while Andretti Global driver Kirkwood won Long Beach. Honda has produced the last five IMS road course winners, from four different drivers (Herta, Rossi, Palou and Dixon).

The next NTT INDYCAR SERIES event is the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst on Sunday, May 4. Coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

NINTH GMR GRAND PRIX PUBLIC SCHEDULE

(All times local, subject to change; all on-track activity on IMS road course)

FRIDAY, May 13 (General admission $20)

7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
8-8:30 a.m.	USF2000 Qualifying
8:45-9:15 a.m.	Indy Pro 2000 Qualifying
9:30-10:30 a.m.	NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1 (45 minutes)
10:45-11:30 a.m.	Indy Lights Practice 1
11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.	USF2000 Race 1
12:45-1:45 p.m.	NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2 (45 minutes)
2-2:30 p.m.	Indy Lights Qualifying
2:45-3:35 p.m.	Indy Pro 2000 Race 1
4-5:15 p.m.	NTT INDYCAR SERIES NTT P1 Award Qualifying
5:35-6:30 p.m.	Indy Lights Race 1 (35 laps or 55 minutes)

SATURDAY, May 14 (General Admission $40; Reserved Seats Start at $41)

7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
8:05-8:50 a.m.	USF2000 Race 2
9:10-10 a.m.	Indy Pro 2000 Race 2
10:30-11 a.m.	NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warmup
11:15-11:55 a.m.	USF2000 Race 3
12:10-1 p.m.	Indy Pro 2000 Race 3
1:20-2:15 p.m.	Indy Lights Race 2 (35 laps or 55 minutes)
2:40-3:05 p.m.	Silver/Bronze Badge Grid Walk
3:30 p.m.	Ninth GMR Grand Prix (85 laps)
5:45 p.m.	GMR Grand Prix Post-Race Track Invasion

106th INDIANAPOLIS 500 presented by Gainbridge PUBLIC SCHEDULE

(All times local, subject to change; all on-track activity on IMS oval)

TUESDAY, May 17 (General Admission $15)

8 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
9-11 a.m.	Veteran Practice
1-3 p.m.	Rookie Orientation Program, Veteran Refresher Tests
3-6 p.m.	Open Practice

WEDNESDAY, May 18-THURSDAY, May 19 (General Admission $15)

10 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
Noon-6 p.m.	Open Practice

FRIDAY, May 20 – FAST FRIDAY (General Admission $15)

10 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
Noon-6 p.m.	Open Practice
6:15 p.m.	Qualifications Draw

SATURDAY, May 21 – PPG Presents ARMED FORCES QUALIFYING (General Admission $20)

8 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
9-10:30 a.m.	Pre-Qualifying Practice (Two groups)
Noon-5:50 p.m.	NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying (Setting positions 13-33 or 13-30 if there are more than 33 entries)

SUNDAY, May 22 – PPG Presents ARMED FORCES QUALIFYING (General Admission $20)

10 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.	Last Chance Practice*
12:30-2 p.m.	Top 12 Practice
2-3 p.m.	Last Chance Qualifying (Positions 31-33)*
4 p.m.	Top 12 Qualifying
5:10 p.m.	Firestone Fast Six Qualifying for NTT P1 Award
5:40 p.m.	NTT P1 Award Presentation
* -- if necessary

MONDAY, May 23 (General Admission $15; Infield Access Only for Fans)

11 a.m.-2 p.m.	Public Gates Open (Gates 2, 4, 6S, 7, 7S only)
Noon-2 p.m.	Open Practice

TUESDAY, May 24-THURSDAY, May 26

No track activity

FRIDAY, May 27 – MILLER LITE CARB DAY (General Admission $40)

8 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
11 a.m.-1 p.m.	Final Practice
2:30-4 p.m.	INDYCAR Pit Stop Challenge
4-6 p.m.	Miller Lite Carb Day Concert, Turn 3 infield

SATURDAY, May 28 – LEGENDS DAY presented by Firestone (General Admission $10)

8 a.m.-1 p.m.	Public Gates Open
9-10 a.m.	Full Field Driver Autograph Session, Pagoda Plaza
10:30 a.m.	Public Drivers’ Meeting, Tower Terrace
Noon-1:30 p.m.	AES 500 Festival Parade, downtown Indianapolis
7 p.m.	Firestone Legends Day Concert, TCU Amphitheater in White River State Park, downtown Indianapolis

SUNDAY, May 29 – RACE DAY (General Admission $50; Reserved Seats Start at $55)

6 a.m.-4 p.m.	Public Gates Open
7 a.m.	Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light Gates Open, Turn 3 infield
12:45 p.m.	106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge (200 laps)

McLaughlin Gets Biggest Boost, Palou Fastest in Race Trim at Indy Test

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, April 24, 2025) – The two names atop the speed charts Thursday came as little surprise on the final day of the Indianapolis 500 Open Test, which featured two segments with distinct engine performance setups.

Last year’s Indy 500 pole winner Scott McLaughlin was fastest during the morning session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, that had cars using the same elevated turbo boost levels as “Fast Friday” practice May 16 and PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on May 17-18. McLaughlin’s top lap was 232.686 mph in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet, the fastest trip around the 2.5-mile oval in two days of testing this week.

SEE: ‘Boosted’ Results | ‘Race Trim’ Results | ‘Boosted’ No-Tow Results | Overall Test Results

“We had a really good day, a good couple of days,” McLaughlin said. “(I) felt like we got through a lot from a hybrid perspective.

“Then I felt like the morning qualifying session – the high-boost session – was a bit of a crapshoot. (There were a) couple yellows. When the track got better, it was a bit dirty from some of the shunts, as well. Then everyone was trying to cram a lot into 40 minutes. But overall, a really solid (car) balance to kick off the Month of May.”

Three-time and two-time reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou topped the speed charts during the afternoon session, which featured boost levels reduced to the same levels that will be used on Race Day for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25. Current championship leader Palou’s top lap in the afternoon was 223.993 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

“You need to keep on always chasing it and trying to make it better,” Palou said. “Trying to make it more comfortable when running in traffic, trying to make it faster when you're alone. That’s the car that gives me a chance (to win), for sure.”

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato was second fastest in the “boosted” session in the morning with his lap of 232.565 mph in the No. 75 AMADA Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Sato’s lap also was the fastest of the test without the benefit of an aerodynamic “tow” from the slipstream of a leading car.

But Sato’s glory was short-lived and showed the risks of living on the edge of a lightning bolt with cars in tricky, low-downforce, high-boost qualifying setups. Sato had completed just eight laps in the morning session, with his best lap on Lap 3, when his car made heavy contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 1 and came to a stop in Turn 2 with heavy damage.

2017 and 2020 Indy winner Sato was uninjured, but the sight of his crumpled race car specifically built and massaged for the “500 was painful.

“I lost it; I simply lost it,” Sato said. “It’s hard. My body is fine. It’s just the car … I lost the car. That’s heartbreaking.”

2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power was third in the “boosted” session at 232.278 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, followed by Felix Rosenqvist at 232.100 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda fielded by Meyer Shank Racing. Palou rounded out the top five at 231.843.

All but two of the 34 cars on track returned to running in thickets of traffic in the afternoon session to simulate Race Day. Palou and Rosenqvist were the only drivers in the top five in both sessions today, as Rosenqvist backed up his strong performance with extra boost by ending up second in the afternoon with a best lap of 223.366.

Long Beach winner Kyle Kirkwood was third in the afternoon session at 223.362 in the No. 27 Andretti Global Honda. Conor Daly was fourth at 223.298 in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, while two-time reigning “500” winner Josef Newgarden rounded out the top five at 223.255 in the No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Team Penske Chevrolet.

Sato wasn’t the only driver to contact the SAFER Barrier Thursday. 2024 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Kyle Larson also crashed in the morning session, hitting the SAFER Barrier in Turn 1 in the No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet before secondary contact in Turn 2.

2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Larson was unhurt, but like Sato, he didn’t return to the track for the rest of the day. Larson is attempting May 25 to race the “double” of the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Chevrolet enjoyed a solid rebound Thursday, as Chevy-powered drivers took two of the top five spots in each of the sessions. Honda engines powered nine of the 10 fastest drivers Wednesday.

Over two days of testing, the 34 drivers combined to turn 5,804 laps, or 14,510 miles.

Up next for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the Month of May, highlighted by three points races. May racing starts with the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix on Sunday, May 4 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Then action shifts to the IMS road course for the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday, May 10 before “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday, May 25 on the IMS oval. FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network are providing live coverage of all three races.

Dixon Edges Newgarden To Lead Day 1 of Indy 500 Open Test

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, April 23, 2025) – Scott Dixon has won four of his six NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships in the last 11 years, but his only victory in the Indianapolis 500 came in 2008.

His performance during the first day of the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge Open Test could be the first step toward changing that equation.

SEE: Test Results | No-Tow Results

Six-time series champion Dixon was the fastest driver Wednesday on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, turning a top lap of 225.182 mph during the last hour of testing in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

"It's testing – just trying to get through the test list, lots of changes,” Dixon said. “We didn't do the October test, so first time with the hybrid here, which definitely adds some elements to it and makes it pretty interesting. I think it is going to determine a lot race-wise, maybe even for the shootout at the end. I think it could determine that.

“So, trying to clarify a lot of those situations to make sure that you're covered muscle memory-wise and memory-wise. It comes down to that. So even in qualifying, I think it be a few different strategies of how to get that right.”

Dixon took the top spot from two-time reigning race champion Josef Newgarden, who ended up second at 225.125 in the No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Team Penske Chevrolet. Two-time series champion Newgarden is trying to become the first driver to win the world’s most prestigious auto race three years in a row Sunday, May 25.

“Today was really solid just to start out,” Newgarden said. “The big thing is you come here with a new car or an existing car that you’re taking apart and completely rebuilding it. For most everybody here, putting a car on the track for the first time and hoping it just goes relatively quick … When the car is fast, everything else can be fixed. It’s the car’s speed that fixes everything.

“For us, it’s been a really good start. It doesn’t mean it’s going to be all smooth sailing, but I hope we can come out of this and be prepared for the Month of May.”

Two-time “500” winner Takuma Sato started his “one-off” Indianapolis 500 effort with vigor, ending up third at 225.069 in the No. 75 AMADA Honda fielded by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Marcus Armstrong led three Meyer Shank Racing cars in the top eight, as he was fourth at 224.987 in the No. 66 SiriusXM/Root Insurance Honda.

Colton Herta rounded out the top five at 224.857 in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda of Andretti Global.

Besides MSR putting Armstrong fourth, four-time “500” winner Helio Castroneves seventh and Felix Rosenqvist eighth, another trend line was drawn during the first day of the test: Honda engines are fast. Honda powered nine of the 10 fastest drivers today, with Newgarden the only Chevy driver in that group.

Honda drivers also took the top three spots on the “no-tow” list of drivers’ best laps turned without the speed-enhancing edge of an aerodynamic slipstream from a leading car. Rosenqvist was the top no-tow driver at 220.835 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda, followed by three-time series champion Alex Palou at 220.354 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Testing continues starting at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Teams will have access from 9:30-noon to the same elevated turbo boost levels as “Fast Friday” practice May 16 and PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on May 17-18. Then boost will be reduced to race levels from 2-5 p.m. for the final segment of testing this week.

“I’m excited to turn up the boost and curious to see how this hybrid is going to be used in qualifying,” said Pato O’Ward, who was 16th overall at 222.775 mph in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. “I think everybody is kind of playing a guessing game now, so we’ll see what’s the best one tomorrow.”

Thirty-four drivers are eligible to participate when Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice opens Tuesday, May 13, as Jacob Abel, Louis Foster and Robert Shwartzman completed the Rookie Orientation Program and Marco Andretti, Devlin DeFrancesco, Callum Ilott, Kyle Larson and Sato completed the veteran refresher test Wednesday.

All 34 drivers expected to compete next month for the 33 starting spots were on track today, turning a combined 2,805 laps. Rookie Swartzman was the busiest driver, turning 133 laps in the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet.

In an interesting twist, two-time reigning series champion and current championship leader Alex Palou was one of the most inactive drivers, completing just 46 laps despite no apparent technical problems. Palou, seeking his first “500” victory, ended up sixth overall at 224.786.

2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Larson was 11th at 223.430 in the No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Larson is once again trying to complete the “Double” of racing in the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day May 25.

There was just one caution period during more than six hours of testing. Graham Rahal brushed the SAFER Barrier in Turn 3 twice in his No. 15 United Rentals Honda fielded by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing with 13 minutes remaining. Rahal was unhurt.

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