Graham Rahal was fastest in the veterans practice session that kicked off practice for the Indianapolis 500 on Tuesday. (IndyCar Photo)
Graham Rahal. (IndyCar Photo)

Rahal Paces Veterans Practice For 105th Indianapolis 500

INDIANAPOLIS – Light, misting rain brought an early end to Tuesday morning’s veterans only practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on opening day of practice for the 105th Indianapolis 500.

There were 28 cars on track in the two-hour practice session that had one hour, 16 minutes and 17 seconds of green flag activity.

Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing was the fastest with a lap at 223.449 mph in the No. 15 Honda. Six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion and 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon was second at 223.420 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.

RESULTS: Indianapolis 500 Veterans Practice

IndyCar rookie Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske was third at 222.836 mph in the No. 3 Pennzoil Chevrolet.

“I’ve dreamt about doing this month at Indy since I was a little kid in New Zealand,” McLaughlin said afterward. “I think it’s an awesome heritage to be in the yellow Pennzoil ‘Yellow Submarine’ with Rick Mears and Helio Castroneves. I want to do my own thing in car No. 3 and start my own legacy.”

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya was fourth in the No. 86 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet at 222.781 mph with Ed Jones of Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser and Sullivan rounded out the top five at 222.700 mph.

The next session is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. with rookie R.C. Enerson taking his rookie test. From 3-6 p.m., the track will be open to the full field of 35 entries attempting to make the 33-car starting lineup for the 105th Indianapolis 500.

The race is scheduled for Sunday, May 30.