INDIANAPOLIS— Weather rained supreme on the first day of the Indianapolis 500 Open Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, on Wedenesday. With on-track activities canceled at 4 p.m. and Thursday’s activity cancled, 34 drivers saw limited track time, completing 1,328 laps, in the abbreviated session.
Full time IndyCar drivers, as well as drivers that have driven on an IndyCar oval in the last six months made up the veterans group for the first session at 9 a.m. Last year’s “500” winner and Team Penske’s, Josef Newgarden topped the morning session, posting a speed of 228.811 mph, the fastest speed of the day. Behind Newgarden, was NASCAR star, Kyle Larson.
Larson is looking to complete “The Double” by running in the “500” and then running the Coca-Cola 600 later that evening. Larson posted a quick 226.384 mph speed in his first, full, on-track session, in IndyCar for Arrow McLaren. Larson completed his rookie orientation program in October of last year, allowing him to run with the rest of the veterans.
“It was a good day,” Larson said. “Didn’t get a ton of laps, or at least a ton of laps in a pack, but it was still good for the amount that I got. I feel like for what I needed to learn and check off my list, I thought it was a successful day.”
At 11 a.m. the rookies and refresher test began. This session allowed rookie drivers who have never turned a lap on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval to complete their Rookie Orientation Program and drivers who have not ran on an IndyCar oval in a year or more, to get to grips with their cars.
The rookies-Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen, Dale Coyne Racing’s Nolan Siegel and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyffin Simpson- were able to complete the progam, allowing them to compete in the rest of the test, as well, as the on-track activities in May.
The veterans- Marco Andretti, Pietro Fittipaldi, who last raced in the “500” in 2021 and Katherine Legge- all completed their refresher programs, as well.
All drivers were able to get some running in during the last session before the rain came. Andretti Global’s Colton Herta posted a speed of 225. 907 mph , the fastest speed in the session and good for fifth overall. In all three sessions, 1,328 laps were turned by all of the drivers. Month of May activites will get started on Friday, May 10 for the Sonsio Grand Prix on the IMS Road Course. The next race for the NTT IndyCar series is April 21 for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on USA Network and Peacock at 3 p.m EST.
