INDIANAPOLIS – The field of 33 for the 105th Indianapolis 500 got a full final practice session on Carb Day despite a delay of more than two hours to dry the track after an early morning rain.
The 33 cars that will start Sunday’s 500-mile race returned to a track that was much cooler than most of the month of May. Instead of highs in the upper 80s, the ambient temperature during practice was 58 degrees, with a track temp of 73.9 degrees.
Scott Dixon, who won his fourth Indianapolis 500 pole last Sunday, was the fastest driver in the final Carb Day practice at 228.322 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda. Dixon is attempting to win the Indianapolis 500 for the second time.
RESULTS: Indianapolis 500 Carb Day Practice
“With the weather conditions, super stuck for everyone, easy to pass back in the pack, which was definitely interesting, which may show how the race is going to be come Sunday,” Dixon said. “Hopefully it warms up a little bit to create some separation, but we got through what we needed to. We got the miles on the engine that we needed to. Ran through some fuel mixtures and things like that. Did the full tank stuff and all that, so it was good.
Dixon continued a trend of Chip Ganassi Racing entries leading practice or qualifications for every day of track activity for this year’s Indianapolis 500.
“It was cool, it was great to see IndyCar got the track time in because they were talking about running as late as 9 p.m.,” Dixon said. “The car felt really good. Everybody felt like King Kong out there with the weather conditions.
“Hopefully, it warms up a little and we can create some separation.”
The session ended early as rain began to fall with less than 10 minutes left in the session.
Team Penske driver Simon Pagenaud, who starts the race in the middle of row nine, was second quick at 227.157 mph in the No. 22 Menard’s Chevrolet. His Team Penske teammate and two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion, Josef Newgarden, was third at 226.856 mph in the No. 2 Shell Rewards Chevrolet.
Conor Daly’s No. 47 US Air Force Chevrolet was fourth at 226.399 mph, with last year’s pole winner Marco Andretti rounding out the top-five in the No. 98 Honda at 226.396 mph.
Rinus VeeKay, who starts on the outside of row one, was 31st in Carb Day practice at 223.652 mph in the No. 21 Bitcoin Chevrolet. Simona De Silvestro was 32nd at 223.023 mph in the No. 16 Chevrolet for Paretta Autosport.
Rookie Pietro Fittipaldi was 33rd at 222.173 mph in the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda.
Because of the cooler conditions, many of the drivers said their cars raced even better than if the track was hot and slippery.
“It will be a better show, but with cooler conditions, it will be easier for everybody,” Dixon said. “The better cars always find their way to the front.
“You have more chance of a lucky outcome if it’s cooler.”
Dixon continued the Carb Day tradition of ending the final practice either first or second on the timing monitor. He doesn’t believe that is a bellwether of what is going to happen in the race.
“I don’t think it means anything at all,” Dixon said. “It’s been good that our cars, I think, have been able to get speed out of them quite easily for this 500. Again, it doesn’t really mean too much.
“I don’t know. I think it’s more about you know how the car felt. I think we were pretty comfortable. I think all four cars, I haven’t seen the other two, I saw T.K. (Tony Kanaan) briefly, he seems pretty happy as well. Some of those are lucky if you line up a tow. Mine was lucky, T.K. helped me out on that one.”
Power and Team Penske were able to rebound from a disappointing qualifying weekend to get a car that, in race setup, should be competitive.
“We have been fast in race trim; we couldn’t figure out why we weren’t in qualifying trim,” Power said. “We are hoping for a cooler day and see what happens.
“Based on practice, we’ve had pretty good cars. Even last year in the race, it was reasonable. Starting back there in 32nd, though, it’s going to be super hard.”
So, what is the approach Power will have to take to scratch and claw his way to contend after starting back in 32nd position?
“You can’t be too conservative, but you can’t be too aggressive either,” Power said. “You don’t want to end up in the wall. Just a methodical day. Good pit stop sequences, maybe fish for a lucky yellow, strategy call like that.
“You can’t force it around this place. You just can’t. You got to get a good balance and get in that rhythm. It’s very difficult to tell if you can pass 32 cars back. Like last year at the start, qualified 24th or something. Yeah, you couldn’t do much at all. It’s a bit more downforce this year, I’m hoping that you can, if you got a bit better car, get through a few cars.
“Starts and restarts will matter, and good pit stops.”
Daly avoided an incident with Santino Ferrucci late in practice that led to some major irritation.
“In turn two, he hit the curb and almost crashes, then he tries to take me with him,” Daly said. “It’s Carb Day. I didn’t think we were getting a prize today.
“Did you get a prize today?” Daly asked Dixon.
“No,” Dixon said.
“It was a much more difficult science project today,” Daly said. “I didn’t feel as sporty as before.”