The Penske team placed two of its three drivers in the top positions during Monday’s practice session. After the qualifying rounds over the weekend, the other 33 IndyCar drivers took to the track for a two-hour practice on Monday. Teams quickly prepared their cars for the race and wasted no time in sending them out on track to complete laps amidst heavy traffic. Throughout the session, drivers showed their courage by maneuvering their cars both inside and outside the 2.5-mile circuit. Although there were moments when they considered running three-wide, they decided against it, as they remembered it was just a practice with nothing at stake.
Josef Newgarden achieved the fastest lap of the afternoon, reaching an average speed of 226.238 MPH. He benefited from a draft from a line of cars in front of him, allowing him to gain extra speed on the straights. Colton Herta secured the second fastest lap, while Will Power came in third. Both drivers set their fastest laps early in the session but tried different setups later in the day, which did not yield the desired results.
Pato O’Ward encountered “annoying issues” that affected his pace during Monday’s practice. Despite finishing fifth on the charts, O’Ward’s Arrow McLaren team identified the problem but struggled to resolve it effectively. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson, who had participated in the NASCAR all-star race the night before, demonstrated impressive skills on track. Although he finished 28th in Monday’s race, his comfort level driving among other high-speed drivers indicated his potential for a strong performance in the upcoming Indy 500.
Graham Rahal demonstrated a better pace compared to the weekend, suggesting that his race setup may be more suitable for the main event than his qualifying speed. He concluded the session in 11th place. It is important to highlight that two drivers completed over 100 laps during the two-hour practice, with rookie Tom Blomqvist completing an impressive 106 laps around the circuit. In total, 2,655 laps were completed, with only a brief interruption for a track inspection halfway through.
After seven consecutive days behind the wheel, the drivers will now have a few days of rest and preparation for the highly anticipated race. During this time, they will participate in interviews and public appearances before taking part in one final practice session on Friday. The 108th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 26th.
