The NTT IndyCar Series held its traditional two-day open test for the Indianapolis 500 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
All 33 drivers scheduled to compete in the upcoming 110th running on the Indy 500 were on hand to get a feel of their machines ahead of the Month of May.
The weather largely cooperated, with pleasant temperatures and overnight rains only slightly delaying the start of the second day of running.
Fans were allowed into the stands near Turn 2 to watch the action and were able to watch driver turn over 4,697 laps at the highest speeds of the year.
Day one
The first day of the test was split into three different sessions, with rookie drivers and veterans needing a refresher course given their own time slot just after noon.
All four of the Indy 500 rookies completed their incremental speed increase programs, even though Dennis Hauger had to complete the final stage of his program late in the afternoon with the full field of cars on track.
When the track was open to all competitors, the veterans quickly found their way to the top of the timesheets.
Helio Castroneves, Takuma Sato, and Scott Dixon, who have an average of 21 years of Indy 500 experience, were each setting some of the fastest times of the day.
The single fastest lap belonged to Conor Daly, however, who set a time of 39.930 seconds at 225.394 MPH.
His Dreyer and Reinbold Racing Chevy was quick right out of the gates, and he only needed 40 laps to set his quick time.
“Good to get back in the swing of things here,” said Daly. “The team did a great job of preparing all winter for this day.
“It’s only day one for us, but it was obviously a good day. Thankful to be working with Chevrolet again and also everyone at ARCO and Kingspan. It’s only day one, onto day two.”
The other DRR entry was quick as well, with Jack Harvey setting the fastest no-tow time of the day.
Only one of the 33 drivers was not able to participate in the first day of running, as Katherine Legge’s AJ Foyt Racing / HMD Motorsports entry had mechanical issues.
Legge only completed a few install laps and lost out on a full day of practice due to the issue.
Day two
On day two, the morning portion of the test was delayed by just over an hour for weather.
Overnight rain had to be cleared off the track, and the drying crew needed a bit of extra time to complete their work.
Before the main portion of the day’s running, Legge was given dedicated track time in order to complete her mandated refresher course.
She did so with none of the issues from the previous day, and was given clearance to contest the remainder of the sessions at will.
When the full field of drivers were allowed to hit the track, speeds ramped up quickly.
Rookie Caio Collet was the first driver to top 226 MPH, with his AJ Foyt Chevrolet benefitting from a large tow down the famous track’s long straights.
The 24-year-old topped the early session with his 226.381 MPH lap, and he was not bested during the remaining time.
Collet’s time slotted him just ahead of two-time Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden, giving him good company at the top of the timesheets.
Conor Daly was third quick overall, and reigning Indy 500 winner Alex Palou set the fourth best lap late in the day.
There were no crashes during the test, but Jack Harvey did experience a spectacular engine failure that caused fire and smoke to trail from his Chevy engine late in the second afternoon.
His day ended after 111 laps completed across both days, although there was optimism as he completed the fastest no-tow time of the test.
Drivers and teams will remain at IMS for the next few weeks, with a race weekend on the interior road course next on the schedule.
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