Scott Dixon led the four-strong Kiwi IndyCar contingent in a rain-shortened first day of the Indy 500 Open Test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver set a best time of 39.7622 seconds with an average speed of 226.346 mph (364.27kmh) in the day’s opening session to fall four tenths short of 2023 Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden’s 39.3338.
Penske’s Scott McLaughlin completed 47 laps over the day to finish sixth with a 39.9328.
Marcus Armstrong was 13th quickest, with a 40.3024-second circuit, his best across the 46 he completed.
Meyer Shank Racing rookie Tom Blomqvist was classified 20th with a best time of 40.5340 seconds.
The surprise of the opening day of testing came from NASCAR Cup Series star Kyle Larson. On Sunday, May 26, he will complete the Memorial Day double by running both the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s 600-mile outing at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Driving for Arrow McLaren, Larson was second-best over the day, behind only Newgarden and ahead of Dixon with a best effort of 39.7554 seconds from 47 attempts.
“Getting in some traffic and feeling the turbulent air,” the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion said. “The first time I got in the traffic, I think my tyres still had good grip, so I was surprised. It didn’t feel that different in traffic. Then the last time, I was building understeer, and Newgarden got by me and I was super tight behind him.
“I’m just trying to learn all that and process all that and knowing what I can do in the car to cope with that. I’m just trying to figure out any bit of racecraft today, which I know is tough. Just get notes in my head and all that.”
All driving was clean, with the only interruptions coming because of passing rain. Heavier showers ended testing shortly after 2 pm local time, following a 67-minute delay at midday.
Testing at IMS will resume with a six-hour session beginning at 10 am ET tomorrow (2 am NZ time).
