INDIANAPOLIS — Three-time NTT IndyCar Collection champion Alex Palou returned to the highest of the pace charts Monday in 109th Indianapolis 500 offered by Gainbridge follow, as drivers and groups centered on race setups after two quick and feverish days of qualifying.
Collection factors chief Palou, who has received 4 of the primary 5 races this season, led at 226.765 mph within the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda as drivers ran in thick packs of visitors across the 2.5-mile oval, a marked distinction from the solo contests of pure pace over the past two days of PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying. Palou will begin sixth within the race Sunday, Could 25.
”A fantastic day for the No. 10 DHL Honda,” Palou stated. “Again to visitors operating, and the automotive felt actually good. We ended up P1. It doesn’t imply a lot, however you at all times take a P1 in any session on the speedway. “I’m feeling actually comfy. There’s nonetheless quite a lot of work to do, and I suppose for everyone else, as nicely. It’s not straightforward to be in visitors and overtake, however I’m actually comfy. I’m in a position to overtake. I’m prepared for Carb Day.”
This was the final on-track session till the ultimate two-hour follow earlier than Race Day, Miller Lite Carb Day this Friday.
4-time 500 winner Helio Castroneves was second at 226.441 within the No. 06 Cliffs Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian. Castroneves, beginning twenty second, is trying to turn into the primary driver to win The Best Spectacle in Racing 5 occasions.
Two-time 500 winner Takuma Sato was third at 226.087 within the No. 75 AMADA Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Sato, 48, or Castroneves, 50, would turn into the oldest winner in 500 historical past.
Jack Harvey, who will begin twenty sixth, jumped to fourth in race setup at 226.048 within the No. 24 DRR CUSICK INVEST Chevrolet, the quickest Chevy-powered driver of the day. His teammate, 2014 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, rounded out the highest 5 at 225.969 within the No. 23 DRR CUSICK WEDBUSH SECURITIES Chevrolet.
Shock pole winner Robert Shwartzman, a 500 rookie in his first oval race, ended up twenty sixth at 222.561 within the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet.
The 2-hour follow occurred underneath partly cloudy skies and air temperatures within the mid-70s. There was one incident, 12 minutes into the session, involving Christian Rasmussen of Ed Carpenter Racing.
Rasmussen made gentle contact with the SAFER Barrier in Flip 2. His No. 21 ECR Splenda Chevrolet then wobbled and spun into the grass on the backstretch and made secondary contact with the within wall. The automotive suffered minor harm. Rasmussen was unharmed.
