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Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge
Palou Eyes Second Indy 500 Pole after Leading First Day of Qualifying
It took Alex Palou just four laps around Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday to tighten his grip even harder on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES this season and zero in on possibly his second career Indianapolis 500 pole.
Three-time series champion and current points leader Palou, who has won four of the first five races this season, was the fastest driver on the opening day of PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. He turned a four-lap average speed of 233.043 mph on his only qualifying attempt of the day in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
Felix Rosenqvist Tops 234, Marcus Armstrong Has Big Hit in Pre-Qualifying Practice
The risk and reward of PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying were on full display Saturday morning during pre-qualifying practice, as Felix Rosenqvist reset the speed limit while Marcus Armstrong suffered a heavy crash less than three hours before time trials begin.
Rosenqvist turned the fastest lap of the week, 234.176 mph, in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda fielded by Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian. Rosenqvist reached that speed during a four-lap qualifying simulation that he aborted because of instability created by west winds of 15 mph, with gusts reaching 25 mph, and glare from the mid-morning sun.
McLaughlin, Dixon, Palou Set Rapid Pace on Fraught Fast Friday
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.
History-Chasing Josef Newgarden Stays Speedy as Fast Friday Looms
The usual – and speedy – suspects occupied the top of the charts Thursday in practice for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, but the first true measure of ultimate pace will be revealed Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Two-time reigning “500” winner Josef Newgarden led the six-hour session at 226.632 mph in the No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Team Penske Chevrolet. Newgarden, who has been in the top three all three days of practice, is trying to become the first driver to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” three consecutive years.
Alex Palou Climbs to Top of Speed Charts on Another Damp Day at Indy
Maybe the only thing that can stop Alex Palou right now is rain.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader Palou produced the fastest speed of a rain-interrupted second day of practice for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Wednesday, 227.546 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. It was the fastest lap of two days of preparations this week for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Will Power Tops Shortened First Day at Indy as Penske, Ganassi Stand Tall
Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing – two of the most storied teams in INDYCAR SERIES history – dominated the opening day of practice for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Tuesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power led a Team Penske 1-2 on the speed charts in a weather-shortened session at 227.026 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, a hot lap in the last 30 minutes of practice. Two-time defending “500” winner Josef Newgarden was second at 226.971 in the No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Team Penske Chevrolet. Newgarden is trying to become the first driver to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” three consecutive years.
109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge Spotter Guide
INDYCAR.com provides an up to date spotter guide for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. You can use this guide to follow along with all of the on-track action in May, making it easy to identify each car and driver while on track.
McLaughlin Gets Biggest Boost, Palou Fastest in Race Trim at Indy Test
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, which featured 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.
Dixon Edges Newgarden To Lead Day 1 of Indy 500 Open Test
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.
2024 Indianapolis 500
Newgarden goes back-to-back at Indy in thriller
