Chevrolet IndyCar entries were fastest after Friday’s practice session, with Team Penske’s Simon Pagenaud topping the field in his No. 22 Avaya Team Penske Chevrolet, posting a lap of 228.793 mph. The time, which was posted three and a half hours after the practice session started, was slower than the Wednesday session’s fastest lap of 230.121 posted by Honda driver Carlos Munoz.
“Today was a really good day for the Avaya car,” Pagenaud said after the session. “We’ve been focusing on understanding what the car does in qualifying runs. Very happy to see the preparation from Penske and how fast the 22 car is. So far, so good. We’re happy but we can be happier. At the end of the day we did some pack running and once again we’re very happy so far. What’s difficult is it’s really cold right now, so you get more downforce because the air is so thick. We know it’s going to be warmer in the race, that’s what makes it tricky. You’re trying to understand what the car’s going to do in the race. It’s definitely going to be warmer.”
Munoz also turned in the second fastest lap of the day Thursday, making him and Marco Andretti, who’s time was ninth fastest, the only Honda drivers in the top ten. In behind Munoz was Chip Ganassi Racing’s Sage Karam in third and Scott Dixon in fourth, with Team Penske’s Tony Kanaan rounding out the top five.
The last practice session before Saturday’s qualifying runs starts today at 12:00 p.m. and will run 6 hours in duration until 6 p.m. For the full Indianapolis 500 schedule, follow this link.
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When did they start running clockwise? LOL!