Palou leads Rosenqvist in final Indy test session
Yesterday at 05:32 PM
Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda's three-time and defending IndyCar champion Alex Palou produced the fastest speed in Thursday’s final test session ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500. The current IndyCar points leader set his best time on his third of 83 laps, a 223.993mph tour of the iconic 2.5-mile Speedway, and that was never bested.
The three-hour session started promptly at 2pm ET, but it wasn't until nine minutes in that Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global's Long Beach winner two weeks ago, became the first driver to hit the track.
The reduction in output from each car's twin BorgWarner turbos – from this morning's 1.5-bar qualifying boost to 1.3-bar race day boost – was soon apparent, with lap speeds some 10mph slower than the 232mph seen in the cooler earlier conditions. Conor Daly of Juncos Hollinger Racing-Chevrolet was the first to crack 220mph, before Andretti Global's 500-only entry Marco Andretti replaced him at the top. The 2020 Indy polesitter took just two laps to produce a 222.784mph behind a string of cars, then pitted.
A tow from Colton Herta helped send 2008 Indy winner Scott Dixon to the top of the speed charts after 38 minutes, the five-time 500 polesitter breaking into the 223s with a 223.150mph run
Toward the end of the first hour, Rinus Veekay had his Dale Coyne Racing-Honda die on him through fuel starvation as he came through the short chute between Turns 1 and 2, giving the closely following Pato O'Ward an alarming moment to avoid running into the back of the stricken car. Another needing to take highly responsive action was Meyer Shank Racing-Honda co-owner Helio Castroneves, who had just claimed P1 with a 223.211 lap. The four-time Indy winner was then swiftly deposed by Palou's top effort.
Kirkwood jumped up to second after 78 minutes, producing 223.362mph on his 34th lap. Meanwhile, Dixon ran a full stint, able to turn 217mph laps toward the end of his run, even when at the head of a pack rather than benefiting from a major tow.
After two of the three hours were completed the teams were allowed to perform "hot" pitstops, albeit without high-pressure refueling, and with the cars still coming onto pitlane via the long and gradual slowdown lane, rather than the raceday swerve into the pits off Turn 4. In truth, most teams didn't start this practice until around the final 20 minutes.
With 38 minutes to go, on his 86th lap, Felix Rosenqvist made a late improvement to jump into sixth, a couple of spots behind Castroneves, and two places ahead of his full-time Meyer Shank teammate Marcus Armstrong. On his 106th lap, Rosenqvist improved even further, with a 223.366mph effort putting him P2. MSR has clearly been benefiting from its new-for-2025 relationship with Ganassi, which saw all three cars in the top dozen thanks to Kyffin Simpson's late improvement.
Daly delivered fourth-fastest speed on his 69th lap, while O'Ward snagged eighth with his 66th lap. Kirkwood ended the day third, ahead of Daly, two-time and defending Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden, Castroneves, and Dixon.
Rookie Jacob Abel was an encouraging 21st fastest for Coyne, although like teammate VeeKay, he also ran out of fuel on track.
On his final flyer, Graham Rahal's No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan-Honda shot up the speed charts, from 31st to ninth.
Busiest drivers of the day were Rosenqvist and last year's pole-winner, Penske's Scott McLaughlin, each turning 112 laps. Other drivers completing over half-race distance were Simpson, VeeKay, Robert Shwartzman of Prema, Devlin DeFrancesco (RLLR), Dixon and Colton Herta.
Following their accidents in the morning session, there was no afternoon track activity for NASCAR ace Kyle Larson, nor two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato.
