Scott Dixon leads Day 1 of Indy 500 open test at 2...

A late flyer vaulted Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon to the highest of the pace charts, main the way in which at 225.182mph. The 2008 Indy 500 winner bested the two-time and defending Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden, who ran as quick a 225.125mph across the iconic 2.5-mile circuit in his No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet.

Takuma Sato clocked in third, Marcus Armstrong fourth, and Colton Herta fifth. Alex Palou, Helio Castroneves, Felix Rosenqvist, Marco Andretti, and Kyle Kirkwood rounded out the highest ten.

“It is testing – simply attempting to get via the take a look at listing, a lot of adjustments,” stated Dixon, who has contested a surprising 22 consecutive Indy 500s. “We did not do the October take a look at, so first time with the hybrid right here, which undoubtedly provides some parts to it and makes it fairly attention-grabbing. I believe it’s going to decide loads race-wise, possibly even for the shootout on the finish. I believe it might decide that.

“So, attempting to make clear a whole lot of these conditions to just be sure you’re lined muscle memory-wise and memory-wise. It comes right down to that. So even in qualifying, I believe it’s a couple of totally different methods of the way to get that proper.”

Early delays

The session received off to a gradual begin, delayed by about three hours as a consequence of connectivity points on the observe. On-track exercise was then prolonged by an additional hour to account for the delay.

All 34 drivers who plan to aim subsequent month’s 500 went out on observe with Kyffin Simpson operating essentially the most laps at 85 whole. Santino Ferrucci ran the fewest laps at simply 5 after smoke began showing from the rear of the automotive early within the day.

2021 NASCAR Cup Collection champion Kyle Larson, who will attempt to complete ‘The Double’ again this year, was solidly eleventh within the pace charts, after efficiently finishing his refresher take a look at within the early afternoon. Marco Andretti, Devlin DeFrancesco, Callum Ilott, and Sato additionally accomplished the veteran refresher take a look at.

 Jacob Abel within the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing Honda was the slowest at 218.738mph. Abel, together with reigning Indy NXT champion Louis Foster and Robert Shwartzman accomplished the Rookie Orientation Program.

Taking a look at no-tow speeds, Felix Rosenqvist was the quickest man in Indianapolis at 220.835mph.

In over six hours of tack time, the closest factor to an incident was when Graham Rahal brushed the wall on the exit of Flip 3 late within the session. 

Automobiles will return to the observe at 9:30 am EST on Thursday. Speeds will attain even larger as groups can have entry to the turbo increase like on ‘Quick Friday’ yearly. This may solely happen from 9:30 am EST. to 12 pm EST earlier than being lowered to race ranges for the afternoon session.