INDIANAPOLIS — Marcus Ericsson, the defending Indianapolis 500 winning driver, was one of four drivers to surpass the 235 mile an hour barrier in Sunday afternoon’s practice session before Sunday’s Pole Qualifications for the 107th Indianapolis 500.
Ericsson’s No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing recorded one of the fastest laps in Indianapolis 500 history at 235.692 miles per hour. Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Alex Palou, Takuma Sato and A.J. Foyt Racing’s Benjamin Pedersen also hit the 235 mph barrier.
Palou’s fast speed was 235.609 mph in the No. 10 American Legion Honda. Sato’s fast lap was 235.121 mph in the No. 11 Deloitte Honda. Pedersen’s hot lap was 235.026 mph in the No. 55 Chevrolet for A.J. Foyt Racing.
His A.J. Foyt Racing teammate rounded out the top five at 234.972 mph in the No. 14 Chevrolet.
Conversely, the four drivers in Sunday’s Last Chance Qualifying had one last practice to try to get up to speed and make the 33-car starting lineup.
One driver will miss the starting lineup.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan driver Jack Harvey was the slowest driver in practice at 229.911 mph. Dale Coyne Racing’s Sting Ray Robb was the next slowest driver in Sunday’s practice at 229.911 miles per hour in the No. 51 Honda.
Of that group, Christian Lundgaard of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing was the fastest at 230.562 mph followed by teammate Graham Rahal’s 230.236mph.
Top 12 Qualifying is Sunday from 2-3 p.m. followed by Last Chance Qualifying for positions 31-33 from 4-5 p.m.
This year, it’s the Firestone Fast Six instead of the Fast Nine and that will determine the pole winner That session is from 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., all times Eastern time.