INDIANAPOLIS – Old Pro Tony Kanaan put the No. 1 American Legion Honda onto the top of the scoring pylon in Friday’s final practice for the 106th Indianapolis 500.
Kanaan’s Carb Day speed was 227.114 mile per hour during Friday’s rain-delayed practice that was cut from 2 hours to 90 minutes because of the delay.
Kanaan, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner, ran a total of 46 laps, but pointed out being fastest on Carb Day doesn’t really mean much.
“It’s not important at all,” Kanaan said. “We had a good car all month. We didn’t go out and say, ‘Let’s be fastest on Carb Day.’
“It doesn’t count, doesn’t mean anything. It’s a consequence of a good car that we had all month. You look at teammates, they’re all there. Glad it’s been working out for us. After this interview, it doesn’t matter anymore. We’re all going for the race on Sunday.”
Kanaan backed up his point by the fact Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Marcus Ericsson was second fastest at 227.004 mph. He ran 30 laps in the No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda for CGR. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato was second at 226.839 mph in the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda.
Another Ganassi driver, pole-winner Scott Dixon, was fourth at 226.696 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda. Sage Karam of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing rounded out the top-five with a lap at 226.517 mph in the No. 24 Chevrolet.
Kanaan had a fast Honda last year when he was sharing the No. 48 ride with Jimmie Johnson. This year, Johnson is running the full season and Kanaan is in an extra Honda at Chip Ganassi Racing.
“It’s the same as last year, we’re starting in the same spot,” Kanaan said. “I think we’re just stronger as a team. But my car was good last year. We got caught in the yellow flag before the first stop and went two laps down. Took us all day to recover to finish 10th.
“Anything can happen. It doesn’t matter how good of a car you have if you’re not in the right place at the right time.”
Colton Herta had a major crash with 30 minutes left in Friday’s final round of practice on Carb Day for the 106th Indianapolis 500.
Herta’s No. 26 Gainbridge Honda sped down the frontstretch of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway into Turn 1 before the rear end broke loose from the track. He slammed backwards into the Turn 1 wall and the car flipped upside down and skidded down the south short chute. After sliding though, the short straight that connects Turns 1 and 2, Herta’s car came to a stop, still upside down.
“I’m all right,” Herta radioed to his crew before the car ever came to a stop.
The AMR Safety Crew was able to turn over damaged car and the 22-year-old Herta was able to climb out of the car with little assistance from the team.
Herta’s team is switching to a backup, which will start the race in the same position as the car he crashed. That’s the inside of row 9 alongside Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin and four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves of Meyer Shank Racing.
“Yeah, a little bit of sadness for that race car,” Herta said. “It sucks. It seemed like it was OK. We were really loose that whole session. I think I was just going a little bit too fast for that corner. I wiggled and the air got underneath it.
“I’m all good. I’m fine. Hopefully we can repair some of the car. Hopefully it’s not tubbed, but it does look like it took a pretty big shot on the side. But yeah, we’ll get the car out. If we need to take the T car out, we will. We’ll work on that one tomorrow.”
That was before Herta’s father and team partner Bryan Herta said the car could not be repaired.
Colton Herta was asked if he was thankful for the aeroscreen in the crash because his car skidded upside down for almost the length of the short chute.
“I’m thankful for a lot of things,” he said. “I guess the aeroscreen is part of that. But more so the AMR safety crew and the durability of the sidepods and all the side structure of the cars because that was a big hit from the side. And yeah, for the safety crews, they were very fast to flip me back over.
“I think we were loose because it just rained, and the track was green. I think the biggest thing was this session we weren’t going to make any huge revelations in the car. We weren’t going to go from a terrible car to a winning car. We might have made small steps, but it was all about just getting the last little bits of balance right. Making sure everybody is OK for pit stops and everybody is happy with how the fuel tank was. It was our last chance, and we did get to do a lot of that stuff, so I’m thankful for that.
“Yeah, I’m not too worried for the race.”