Fast Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway lived up to its name — and then some. With added horsepower, gusty winds, and an unforgiving track surface, the final day of practice before Indianapolis 500 qualifying turned into a chaotic, high-stakes dress rehearsal.
Speeds soared, tempers simmered, and several drivers found the limit — some more violently than others. Thanks to an increase in turbocharger boost, the Honda and Chevrolet engines powering the 34-car field were given an extra 100 horsepower.
That surge increased speeds by more than 6 mph, giving fans a thrilling preview of what’s to come in qualifying. But with that power came peril, as two drivers crashed hard and the field wrestled with unpredictable conditions.
Last year’s Indy 500 pole sitter Scott McLaughlin fired the first major warning shot. The Team Penske driver unleashed a speedy lap of 233.954 mph, the fastest of the month so far.
The lap, recorded in the opening minutes of the six-hour session, came with a helping tow — but it was a sign that the 2024 polesitter is ready to defend his crown.
But the day’s most impressive performance may have come from a veteran who didn’t need a slipstream.
Late in the session, 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon rolled out for a solo qualifying simulation. In full clean-air conditions, he laid down a 232.561 mph lap, the fastest no-tow lap of the day.
Dixon’s four-lap average was even more telling, which proved to be the quickest of anyone, a crucial metric with qualifying looming.
“It was good,” said Dixon
“The first one [qualifying sim] was very conservative. We were very worried about conditions. I think there’s still some good speed left in the car. The car is really smooth.
“I’m pretty conservative, as well. So, we’ll see. Who knows what tomorrow is going to bring? I think conditions are going to be pretty tough.”
Team Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Andretti Global flexed their collective muscle throughout the day. Dixon’s teammate Alex Palou was nearly as quick, clocking in at 232.585 mph.
Andretti’s Kyle Kirkwood and Colton Herta followed close behind, fourth and fifth respectively, while Will Power placed sixth for Penske. Rounding out the top ten were Christian Lundgaard (McLaren), Conor Daly (Juncos Hollinger), Marcus Armstrong (Meyer Shank Racing), and Sting Ray Robb (Juncos Hollinger).
Yet amid the speed, the day took a violent turn.
In the morning, second-year driver Kyffin Simpson suffered one of the most dramatic crashes of the month. Coming off Turn 4, Simpson struck the outside wall and lifted into the air before landing on its side and sliding down the front stretch. Remarkably, the car settled back onto all four wheels, and Simpson emerged unscathed.
“I’m all good, praise the Lord,” he said.
“It’s a tough one. A tough way to start out Fast Friday. Just a weird crash. Everything about it was weird.
“Even from the out-lap, something didn’t feel quite right. I kept going right on my weight jacker, trying to help the car out, and it just never really felt the way I expected it to.
“It was just a weird one. We’ll go back, look at some data, try to figure out what might have been wrong and try to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Simpson failed to complete a timed lap, placing him 34th on the speed charts.
Later in the day, another heavy hit came from NASCAR champion-turned-Indy rookie Kyle Larson. During a qualifying simulation in Turn 3, Larson’s No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet snapped loose.
He spun nearly 270 degrees, slammed the SAFER Barrier with the front, and made secondary contact at the rear in Turn 4.
“I’m okay,” Larson said.
“Just had a lot of front grip there in [Turn] 3 and just kind of bit and felt it come around — and it comes around quick once it does that.”
Trying to stay light-hearted, he added,
“Yeah, a bummer. It is what it is. At least we’ve found both ends of the spectrum. I hit it with the right front at the open test, and today I backed it in.”
Larson’s crew worked swiftly to repair the car, getting it back on track in the final hour for a shakedown run. Despite the hit, Larson sounded unfazed.
“I’m not too worried about it. I think we’ll be fine. Track conditions will be better tomorrow, and we’ll still be fast,” he said.
“Obviously, it’s tricky. I spun. I kind of got caught off guard there. Like I said, I think we’ll be fine. We tend to get over things pretty quickly.
Elsewhere in the field, New Zealand’s Marcus Armstrong continued to impress. The rookie has flown under the radar this week, but Friday marked his third top-10 finish of the week with a 231.568 mph effort.
He’ll be the first of the Kiwi trio to roll out for qualifying tomorrow, ninth in the order. Dixon is slotted 14th, and McLaughlin 27th.
What’s Next: Qualifying Schedule
Qualifying for the 109th Indianapolis 500 begins at 3:00 AM NZT. The Top 12 session is scheduled for 8:05 AM on Monday. Last Chance Qualifying is at 9:15 AM, and the Fast Six shootout is at 10:25 AM. The front three rows of the grid will be set.
Fast Friday served its purpose — it was a litmus test for speed, stability, and nerves. And with the stakes now rising, the battle for pole is set to deliver another chapter in what’s shaping up to be an unforgettable Month of May.
Header Image: Penske Entertainment – James Black
