Penske teammates Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin and Will Power led the way on Fast Friday’s four-lap qualifying simulations in the leadup to next weekend’s 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
Reigning Indy 500 champion Newgarden averaged an impressive 234.063 mph (376.688 kmh) across his four laps to better McLaughlin, the fastest Kiwi in second overall, by just 0.708mph.
The qualifying simulation pace shown by the Team Penske trio puts the event record of 234.217 mph, set by Alex Palou on his way to pole last year, under threat.
2018 Indy 500 winner and two-time series champion Power was third at 233.451 in the No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet.
Colton Herta was the fastest driver over a single lap in Friday’s running, his 234.974 the only speed better than NASCAR star Kyle Larson’s best effort. Larson, who will run the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, was second overall on a one-lap average speed and tenth in his qualifying simulation.
Newgarden’s lap of 234.260 – the first on his fastest four-lap qualifying sim – ended up as the third-fastest single lap overall.
Scott Dixon could only manage the 21st fastest single lap time but flirted with the top ten over the session on his four-lap average.
Tom Blomqvist set the 23rd fastest single lap, two places to the good of Marcus Armstrong, who is making his oval debut at the famed Indy 500.
There was one incident, ‘Fast Friday’, with rookie driver and Indy NXT points leader Nolan Siegel spinning in Turn 2 and connecting with the barrier. The contact sent him airborne, and his car landed on its side. He emerged OK from his car once assisted out. His team are shifting to a backup car.
There was also an engine issue for defending IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou, which required an engine change mid-way through the day.
In one of the stranger incidents in Indianapolis, a fast Christian Rasmussen collected a snake crossing the track. Proceedings were slightly delayed while its body was removed from the surface.
The Qualification order for Sunday’s session has since been announced. Kyle Kirkwood will get things underway, followed by McLaughlin. Larson will qualify sixth, Armstrong 11th, Blomqvist 22nd, and Dixon 27th.
The first qualifying session begins at 3.00 am NZST. The top 12 progress to Round 2, grid positions 13-30 are set, and the bottom four are determined to battle it out for the final three spots in the 33-car field.
On Monday morning, the top 12 reduce to become the Firestone Fast 6 before the pole is decided.
Header Image: James Black (Penske Entertainment)
