Indy 500 qualifying: Fast Friday produces fastest laps since 1996
INDIANAPOLIS -- As air and track temperatures dropped at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday afternoon, Happy Hour produced huge speed jumps as IndyCar Series teams prepared for this weekend's Indianapolis 500 qualifying.
Four drivers exceeded 233 mph in four-lap qualifying simulations, most of them in the final hour of practice on the 2.5-mile oval. Two-time race winner Takuma Sato uncorked a 233.413-mph effort to lead the way. Defending race winner Marcus Ericsson was next at 233.133. Both drive for Chip Ganassi Racing and use Honda engines.
"It was on edge, for sure," Sato said, who also had the top single lap of 234.753 early in the session.
'@TakumaSatoRacer to the TOP!
The two-time #Indy500 winner with a 4-lap average speed of 233.413 mph.
📺 : @peacock pic.twitter.com/LZJbfUgiBL— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 19, 2023
Ryan Hunter-Reay draws No. 1: Indianapolis 500 2023 qualifying order
Team Penske had the next two best efforts: Will Power (233.070) and Josef Newgarden (233.066). They use Chevrolet engines.
The first 4-lap average exceeding 233mph!@josefnewgarden, you mad lad. #Indy500 practice on @peacock. pic.twitter.com/IZFPBUIM4d
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 19, 2023
Juncos Hollinger Racing is changing the chassis on Callum Ilott's No. 77 car after deeming the previous set-up unsafe. His best lap Friday was 228.942 mph, last in the field. Team officials are unsure if Ilott will be ready to make a qualifying attempt Saturday.
Indy 500 qualifying 2023: Here is this year's qualifying format
Juncos going to a backup chassis for @callum_ilott. Thought it seemed as it they had things worked out a little over the last couple days after their nightmare during April testing.
Not the case.
If they thought this was needed, surprised they didn't pull the trigger earlier. https://t.co/nT8suSWQEk— Nathan Brown (@By_NathanBrown) May 19, 2023
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is struggling, with their drivers (Katherine Legge, Jack Harvey, Christian Lundgaard and Graham Rahal) ranking 30-33 in single-lap runs. Harvey's engine let go in the closing minutes of the session, complicating matters.
Qualifying begins at 11 a.m. ET Saturday, and positions 13-30 will be determined. The forecast is for sunny skies with a high in the low 70s.
The first four rows and Row 11 will be determined Sunday. Scott Dixon is trying to become the first driver to win the pole position three years in a row.
3 p.m.: Simulated qualifying runs underway
Drivers are doing simulated four-lap qualifying runs under mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 80s with wind out of the south (a headwind along the front straightaway).
Here are the top four-lap efforts midway through practice (3 p.m ET): Rinus VeeKay at 232.898 mph; Kyle Kirkwood (232.616); Colton Herta (232.521); Will Power (232.474); Scott McLaughlin (232.316).
.@ColtonHerta joins his @FollowAndretti teammate @KKirkwoodRacing near the top of the 4-lap averages.
Been a quiet couple days for the team that put Marco on pole 3 years ago. Those certainly change that. pic.twitter.com/6ESRok6pqv— Nathan Brown (@By_NathanBrown) May 19, 2023
1 p.m.: Fast Friday produces best practice laps since 1996
The racetrack wasn't too busy, but it was certainly speedy in the first hour of Fast Friday Indianapolis 500 practice.
Two drivers topped 234 mph for a single lap on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in preparation for this weekend's qualifying, led by Takuma Sato of Chip Ganassi Racing (234.753), who also nearly hit the wall coming out of Turn 2. Sato's lap is believed to be the fastest practice lap since 1996.
SO CLOSE, @TakumaSatoRacer!
No attack, no chance. Using every INCH! #Indy500 practice on @peacock. pic.twitter.com/AqbI2X77l9— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 19, 2023
Takuma Sato's lap of 234.753 mph earlier was the fastest practice lap at Indianapolis since 1996, and the seventh-fastest driver in practice all time
NASCAR at North Wilkesboro, Indy at 234+, 1996 is back! pic.twitter.com/eSBY3NoVyf— nascarman (@nascarman_rr) May 19, 2023
Rinus VeeKay of Ed Carpenter Racing also topped 234, and Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing and Felix Rosenqvist of Arrow McLaren exceeded 233. Three Carpenter cars (VeeKay, Conor Daly, Carpenter) were among the top 10 early, as were three Arrow McLarens (Rosenqvist, Pato O'Ward, Alexander Rossi)
Most of these hot laps are run under qualifying conditions, without an aerodynamic tow from a leading car.
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Thursday's report: Indy 500 champ Marcus Ericsson 'feel(s) better' than last year
Defending race champ Marcus Ericsson had the top lap of the week before Friday, but he had not reached 230 mph.
The first-round qualifying order will be drawn after Friday's practice.
How Fast Friday works
All cars get extra boost for Fast Friday and this weekend's qualifying, the added 40-50 horsepower making for faster laps. Last year, Sato had the hot lap in Thursday's practice (227.519) and Fast Friday (232.789 with extra boost). Dixon's pole-winning speed was 234.046 over four laps.
Stefan Wilson sets pace early on Fast Friday
Stefan Wilson, who is in a one-off program with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, hit the track first Friday and immediately had the hottest lap of the week.
It's called Fast Friday for a reason!
Approximately 100 extra horsepower means increased speeds. #Indy500 practice now on @peacock. pic.twitter.com/V91iWKW0PI— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 19, 2023
Eyes and ears: How can I watch the race, practice, qualifying?
J.R. Hildebrand offers practice, qualifying tips
J.R. Hildebrand, a veteran of 12 Indy 500s who came within one turn of winning in 2011 as a rookie, knows his way around track. He offered some things to watch in Fast Friday and weekend qualifying.
A little thread on practice-into-qualifying speeds at Indy (bc I’ve been asked about both several times this week!) 🧵
First, practice speeds. With race downforce and race boost, the cars generally run ~219-221mph with no draft depending on fuel load, conditions, etc. 1/— JR Hildebrand (@JRHildebrand) May 19, 2023
Indy 500 results: Fast Friday practice speeds
Four-lap qualifying simulation runs, with driver, engine, team, mph; all cars use Dallara chassis, Firestone tires
Takuma Sato, Honda, Ganassi, 233.413 mph
Marcus Ericsson, Honda, Ganassi, 233.113
Josef Newgarden, Chevorlet, Penske, 233.086
Will Power, Chevrolet, Penske, 233.070
Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, Carpenter, 232.898
Colton Herta, Honda, Andretti, 232.803
Felix Rosenqvist, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren, 232.777
Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, Andretti, 232.616
Alexander Rossi, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren, 232.535
Scott Dixon, Honda, Ganassi, 232.450
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy 500 qualifying: Takuma Sato leads Fast Friday practice
