Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) was ‘Fast Friday’, meaning the engines were given extra horsepower in preparation for this weekend’s Indianapolis 500 qualifications. Friday marked the third-straight day that held a six and a half hour session.
Recap
The boost was up Friday and the Honda-powered teams flexed their muscles around the 2.5-mile brickyard. The Chevrolet-powered teams lacked strong speed Friday for both single lap and during four-lap qualifying simulations.
No crashes occurred Friday.
Andretti leads way for Honda
When the third session wrapped up Friday, Honda engines made up nine of the top 10 positions, and 13 of the top 15. The lone Chevrolet in the top-ten was Conor Daly who failed to post a lap by himself, unlike those around him who all ran qualifying-trim laps.
Marco Andretti set the fastest lap of the day averaging a lap of 233.491MPH. That lap for Andretti is the fastest lap turned around IMS since May 10, 1996, when Arie Luyendyk averaged a lap of 239.260MPH.
Andretti’s flying lap was however set in the tow of another car, but that shouldn’t take away from the speed that has been shown in the No. 98 Honda this week. Andretti mustered a lap that put him 4th-best in the No Tow Reports.
Ryan Hunter-Reay turned a 232.124MPH lap in the session, putting him fourth-best, but the lap was also the fastest No Tow lap of the entire day.
Behind Andretti and Hunter-Reay, their Andretti Autosport teammates followed closely behind for the majority of the day. James Hinchcliffe (7th), Alexander Rossi (9th), Colton Herta (13th), and Zach Veach (15th) all posted top-15 speeds for Michael Andretti’s team. Jack Harvey in the Meyer Shank Racing No. 60 Honda ended the day in 12th-place, having an alliance with Andretti.
Penske’s Problems
Roger Penske’s four-car operation led by Tim Cindric struggled with the extra boost Friday.
The best Team Penske car was Will Power who ended the day 12th on the speed charts. Following him was Josef Newgarden – 17th, Simon Pagenaud – 22nd, and Helio Castroneves – 29th.
The problems in the Penske camp started early. Josef Newgarden and Helio Castroneves said their Nos. 1 and 3 Chevrolets were unable to stick wide open, while Will Power had to barely lift into the opening turn. The defending Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud had too much oversteer and joined his teammates in the paddock after just 1 attempt at a qually-simulation.
Power was blunt when talking to NBC Sports. “We’re just not fast.”
Newgarden discussed the speed of the Honda’s and said achieving a result in the “top ten is gonna be a fight.”
Andretti steps into his No. 98 Honda. (Picture: James Black / IndyCar Media)
Results
Fast Friday Practice Results (with tow laps)
Pos.: Driver (No.) Team – Best MPH Average
1: Marco Andretti (98) Andretti Autosport – 233.491MPH
2: Conor Daly (47) Ed Carpenter Racing – 232.337MPH
3: Scott Dixon (9) PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing – 232.290MPH
4: Ryan Hunter-Reay (28) Andretti Autosport – 232.124MP
5: Spencer Pigot (45) RLL w/ Citrone-Buhl Autosport – 232.116MPH
6: Alex Palou [R](55) Dale Coyne w/ Team Goh – 231.989MPH
7: James Hinchcliffe (29) Andretti Autosport – 231.967MPH
8: Takuma Sato (30) Rahal Letterman Lanigan – 231.880MPH
9: Alexander Rossi (27) Andretti Autosport – 23.859MPH
10: Marcus Ericsson (8) Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing – 231.763MPH
11: Will Power (12) Team Penske – 231.605MPH
12: Jack Harvey (60) Meyer Shank Racing – 231.600MPH
13: Colton Herta (88) Andretti Harding Steinbrenner – 231.595MPH
14: Graham Rahal (15) Rahal Letterman Lanigan – 231.239MPH
15: Zach Veach (26) Andretti Autosport – 231.190MPH
16: Charlie Kimball (4) A.J. Foyt Enterprises – 230.861MPH
17: Josef Newgarden (1) Team Penske – 230.583MPH
18: Pato O’Ward [R](5) Arrow McLaren SP – 230.581MPH
19: Oliver Askew [R](7) Arrow McLaren SP – 230.507MPH
20: Felix Rosenqvist (10) NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing – 230.432MPH
21: Rinus VeeKay [R](21) Ed Carpenter Racing – 230.331MPH
22: Simon Pagenaud (22) Team Penske – 230.189MPH
23: Santino Ferrucci (18) Dale Coyne w/ Vasser-Sullivan – 230.154MPH
24: Tony Kanaan (14) A.J. Foyt Enterprises – 229.946MPH
25: Fernando Alonso (66) Arrow McLaren SP – 229.788MPH
26: James Davison (51) Dale Coyne w/ Ware, Byrd & Belardi – 229.766MPH
27: Ed Carpenter (20) Ed Carpenter Racing – 229.563MPH
28: Dalton Kellett [R](41) A.J. Foyt Enterprises – 229.099MPH
29: Helio Castroneves (3) Team Penske – 228.451MPH
30: J.R. Hildebrand (67) Dreyer & Reinbold Racing – 228.275MPH
31: Sage Karam (24) Dreyer & Reinbold Racing – 227.187MPH
32: Max Chilton (59) Carlin – 227.610MPH
33: Ben Hanley (81) DragonSpeed USA – 222.086MPH
The official IndyCar report can be found below:
104th Indianapolis 500 Practice 3 Results (PDF)
Read the reports from the two prior sessions here: Wednesday. Thursday.
