WILL POWER – TEAM CHEVY PHOTO
Team Chevy drivers post three of top five fastest in Day One of practice for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500
CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
INDIANAPOLIS 500
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
TEAM CHEVY PRACTICE REPORT
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025
Team Chevy drivers post three of top five fastest in Day One of practice for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500
* Will Power, No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, led the 34 cars
with a fast lap of 227.026 mph followed by Josef Newgarden, No.2 Shell
V-Power NITRO Team Penske Chevrolet, at 226.971 mph and Scott McLaughlin,
No.3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet, put up the fifth fastest lap of
225.005 mph.
* Weather delayed the start of practice from noon to a 2:30 pm start
time
* Last year’s pole winner, McLauglin, was first on track
* Out of the 1,549 laps run today by the entrants, Power turned a
total of 73 laps before Mother Nature again interfered with the session,
and officials terminated on-track activity with 30 minutes left due to
lightning strikes in the area
* There were no on-track incidents during the three-hour period
* Tony Kanaan, designated standby driver for the No.17
Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet of Kyle Larson who is
attempting the Indianapolis 500/Coca Cola 600 double, was scheduled to
complete his veteran refresher prior to full-field practice session, but
the weather forced postponement until tomorrow at 10:00 am
Indianapolis 500 Practice #1 Results
Indianapolis 500 Practice #1 Top Non-Tow Results
Indianapolis 500 practice tune-in alert
Wednesday, May 14
* NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice – noon-4pm (ET)/11am-3pm (CT)/10am-2pm
(MT)/9am-1pm (PT) – FS2/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218
* NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice – 4pm-6pm (ET)/3pm-5pm (CT)/2pm-4pm
(MT)/1pm-3pm (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218
Thursday, May 15
* NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice – noon-4pm (ET)/11am-3pm (CT)/10am-2pm
(MT)/9am-1pm (PT) – FS2/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218
* NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice – 4pm-6pm (ET)/3pm-5pm (CT)/2pm-4pm
(MT)/1pm-3pm (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218
Friday, May 16
* NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice – noon-4pm (ET)/11am-3pm (CT)/10am-2pm
(MT)/9am-1pm (PT) – FS2/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218
* NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice – 4pm-6pm (ET)/3pm-5pm (CT)/2pm-4pm
(MT)/1pm-3pm (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218
A.J. Foyt Enterprises
David Malukas, No. 4 AJ FOYT RACING Chevrolet:
“It’s been a long time for me. Last year I was in the stands doing
Tik Toks with media guys. It was fun over there, but man, it’s great
to be back in the car. We have our speedway car now. At the open test,
we just had the road course car. It was a big difference immediately. We
went out and did a few laps and hit 223 (mph) in traffic, which we
struggled to do during the two day (open test). We’re in a happy
place, just taking it easy, making sure everything is in the place, the
car is in the right place and we feel comfortable.”
Arrow McLaren
Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:
“I did a lot of laps by myself today. We didn’t get quite as much
traffic running as I wish we could have had, but good thing there’s
plenty of time to get those runs sorted out to see where the car is at.”
Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:
It’s going really well so far. We had a good open test. We got
ourselves in a comfortable spot, and that’s kind of where we rolled
off again today. Happy with where we are, balance-wise, with the car.
Starting to work into traffic and just taking our time. I’m really
happy where we started the month.
On working with veteran Indianapolis 500 J.R. Hildebrand.
I’ve got great teammates. Obviously, Tony as well at the rest of the
events. But Tony is helping everyone and Tony is helping Kyle a lot this
month. It’s great to have J.R. on my stand as a resource I can go to
any time. Pato and Christian are great resources as well, given that
they’ve done the race, but they are focused on their own program.
Having J.R. here with the No. 6 group focused on this car is really
helpful for me, especially given that I haven’t done the race before.
There is still a ton for me to learn, and having that experience will be
great for me.
Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:
“It was a pretty good first day. I think we found some improvements
since the Open Test and really we’re just moving on from there. We
really wanted to focus on what the No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
could do today. Looking ahead at Wednesday’s practice, we really want to
see what the other cars have to say and pick out the best bits and
pieces to combine them and see where we’re really at. But I feel that
we’ve left Tuesday in a really good place compared to where we were at
the Open Test, so I’m much happier and confident at this point.”
Kyle Larson, No. 17 HendrickCars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:
“Our day was good. We kind of took it easy to start. We got out in clean
air and made sure our balance was comfortable, which it was, so I was
happy about that. We got in some traffic at the end and, as normal, had
some understeer. I’m happy with the first day. It was a nice and smooth,
so a good place to start.”
DRR-Cusick Mostorsports
Ryan Hunter-Reay, No.23 DRR CUSICK WEDBUSH SECURITIES:
“We went through a lot of stuff today and got in a good number of
laps. It was super important for us to get through a checklist of items
today. We wanted to get a direction to set us up for later in the week.
Mission accomplished there but there were a few more things later in the
day we wanted to try. But weather was an issue today. Hopefully, less of
that as the week moves on. All in all, we got some answers today and we
have a few to be answered in the next few days.”
Jack Harvey, No. 24 DRR CUSICK INVST:
“Any day that we get to run at IMS is good day. I think we got in more
running than I would have expected. It’s always an Indy thing. It’s
going to rain and then we get in many more laps thsan expected. From
want we had at the test a few weeks ago to now, it was definitely an
improvement. We know there are areas that we need to make some gains.
Ryan (Hunter-Reay, teammate) and I have similar issues with the car
right now. We can divide and conquer for the rest of the week. Later in
the day, the wind made a pivot a bit in the corners. Actually, I don’t
mind practicing in hotter conditions because we know it will be hotter
for the race. Overall, I think we are in a pretty good window if you can
make a few more improvements.
Team Penske
Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet:
“Happy we were able to get out today after the rain seemed like it
wouldn’t stop. The Pennzoil Chevy came off the truck quick and now we
have a good baseline to attack the rest of the week. Having Simon
(Pagenaud) on the timing stand today is something you can’t put a
price on, and it means a lot to me that he is here. He has been a
tremendous help to me on ovals and he’s someone whose advice I value a
lot.”
Simon Pagenaud, former Team Penske driver and current Team Chevy
simulation consultant:
How can you help McLaughlin?
“I’ve been here much longer than he has, and I’ve had the chance
to run the race at the front and win it. Scott came to me, which is rare
to go to another driver and ask for the tools to get stronger. Scott is
extremely talented, but he’s always looking for something else. We
have this common trait and, he said would you mind coming to the
(Indianapolis) 500 with me this year. I said, of course I would. Last
year was so exciting with the pole. He can do it, he just needs a little
bit more experience and I’m just trying to transfer all of my
knowledge to him and to help him speed up his learning process.”
What is like being on this side of pit wall?
“It’s different. It’s been two different years for me. It’s
confusing on the emotional side of things. I want to be driving, but I
can’t. I’ve been very fortunate to have opportunities like this to
transfer my knowledge and give back to someone that has the same values
as me and to my old team. I’m happy that I can help in some ways and
be part of the community and contribute to someone’s great talent.
Will Power, No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet:
“Not bad. Definitely, a good change at the end. I felt more
comfortable. I’m not sure where we stand, we’ll know that Saturday.
I’m in a more comfortable place than where I was last year and we made
some big philosophy changes from last year.”
Alexander Rossi
Kyle Larson
Press Conference Transcript
THE MODERATOR: With practice canceled for the rest of the day, we’re
going to bring up Kyle Larson and Marcus Ericsson. Joined now by driver
of the No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet, Alexander Rossi, former
Indianapolis 500 champion, seventh quick today. You had to wait out the
rain, finally got some time out there. What did you guys learn?
ALEXANDER ROSSI: Well, I think we just validated the car that we built
in the open test. There were some small technical issues we were working
through today, but the good thing is the car balance is as expected, and
the speed of it seems okay. It felt good in the couple laps we got.
Pretty positive start as at one point today we didn’t think we’d get any
running, so all in all, it’s always a good day when you get to get on
track here.
Q. Can you take us through what these last 72, 96 hours have been like
for you, trying to get ready for the biggest race on your calendar and
dealing with a lot off track, too —
ALEXANDER ROSSI: The podcast?
Q. Yeah, just juggling that with Tim and James —
ALEXANDER ROSSI: Yeah, I was surprised about it, too. I had a kid —
well, I didn’t have a kid, my wife had a kid. We didn’t tell anyone
because why would we. It’s been a pretty awesome journey. Wednesday was
an unbelievable kind of experience, more so than I could have imagined.
So it was really special. It was very cool, and very thankful for Kelly
and Ben has been awesome.
Yeah, I don’t know what else to say beyond that, but it’s been crazy but
in the best kind of way possible.
Q. Does the name have any significance?
ALEXANDER ROSSI: No. Funny story about that. So Kelly was convinced we
were going to have a girl, so she had like 40 girl names, and we agreed
upon one, and we kind of had a boy name, and then when we found out it
was a boy, we were like, well, we don’t really have any other options,
so that’s it.
Q. Just to clarify —
ALEXANDER ROSSI: The middle name is her late father, but the first name,
no.
Q. Did Ben come before the SONSIO GP?
ALEXANDER ROSSI: Wednesday, yeah.
Q. How are you in these first couple days, how are you finding balancing
being present here, giving your team your all and trying to help Kelly
and your family out at home as much as possible?
ALEXANDER ROSSI: I mean, it’s pretty straightforward because we had nine
months, as it works, to plan for this. So obviously May isn’t the time
you would choose, but it is what it is, and her mom is here from
Toronto. It’s actually in some ways an advantage because I’m 25 minutes
down the road. So yeah, while it’s the busiest time for us in terms of
the biggest race in the world, July would have been a lot worse.
We’re managing it. It’s fine. My priority for 80, 70 percent of the day
is here, and the rest of the time that I can give, I will give at home.
THE MODERATOR: Also joined by Kyle Larson, back in the No. 17
hendrickcars.com [4] Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, qualified fifth last year,
in pursuit of the full Hendrick 1100 this year. Talk about your day
today, Kyle.
KYLE LARSON: Yeah, our day was good. Kind of took it easy to start in
clean air, made sure our balance was comfortable, which it was, so was
happy about that. Then yeah, just there at the end kind of finally got
in some traffic and as normal kind of had some understeer. But just
happy with the first day. It was a nice smooth day. Good place to start
from.
Q. Alex, having the baby, did it either change your perspective or
change your focus or change anything about last weekend and so far this
week?
ALEXANDER ROSSI: No. No, it hasn’t changed anything.
Q. For Kyle, are you involved at all with any sort of preparation for
the All-Star Race while you’re here? Are you juggling two things, or
when you’re here, are you focused on here and then —
KYLE LARSON: Yeah. Yeah, just focused on Indy now. Before I left Kansas,
Cliff and I talked, maybe if there was time on Saturday during
qualifying, we could get together and just talk about how their practice
went and stuff like that and get prepared for the race on Sunday.
But yeah, I think it’s nice that we are so kind of well-organized over
there that I can completely shut myself off from them for a handful of
days to really try and learn this and get prepared for the 500 because
there’s just a lot that’s a little bit unfamiliar that you’ve got to get
refamiliarized with this week.
Q. Kyle, is the nice thing about today you really know what to expect
when you get in the car today as opposed to last year when everything
was kind of new?
KYLE LARSON: Not really. It doesn’t seem any different. So no, it’s just
practice. It’s not a huge deal. Last year was just practice, as well.
You have plenty of time to make some laps.
Q. Kyle, Jon (Edwards) spent three years on this program getting
everything straight, doing everything with your schedule. I know Ashley
probably is on top of it. But is there any sort of difficulty or
anything because John had all of that so buttoned up for you?
KYLE LARSON: I think just — had he been here, it would have been more
organized weeks ago. But I feel like since he passed, it was kind of
like quick decisions on who’s going to be the team around me.
I would say to this point, though, now that we’re here, it’s
well-organized, and that’s a lot due to Ashley and everybody at Arrow
McLaren, as well.
I think everybody with John out here worked much harder to make sure it
was smooth operating, which it’s been so far.
Q. Did you make sure Ashley enjoyed her first trip to Kokomo?
KYLE LARSON: She’s a dirt girl. She likes it. I’m sure she had a good
time. I don’t know if Ashley ever has a bad time.
Q. Kyle, I know you told folks at NASCAR maybe last weekend that you
planned on, if you get to the Fast Six this year, foregoing the
opportunity to run for pole and heading off to make sure you could
compete in the All-Star Race on Sunday. Can you tell us a little bit
more about that decision and if that was ultimately you, or if that was
you talking with Rick and Jeff and making a cumulative decision? How did
you come to that?
KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I think just always for me and definitely for Rick
and Hendrick Motorsports, I think no matter through this whole
experience, especially this year, Cup should be the priority. Yeah, I
just assume we’re going to run the All-Star Race no matter what.
Hopefully we run into that predicament because that means our car is
fast, and two, yes, it would be extremely nice to go for the pole at the
Indianapolis 500, but at the same time it’s hard to turn down an
opportunity to race for a million dollars.
Like I said, I hope we’re in that predicament.
Q. Alex if you could have a million dollars or Indy 500 pole, what would
you take?
ALEXANDER ROSSI: I’d just like a race for a million dollars, besides
this one. We can start there. I’m glad I don’t have to make that
decision.
KYLE LARSON: That’s fair. We’d also like to race for a $3 million share,
too.
Q. What’s harder, a racehorse or a baby, Alex?
ALEXANDER ROSSI: Probably the racehorse because it costs more at this
point.
Q. Kyle, did you practice at all in any traffic today —
KYLE LARSON: Yeah, just right there at the end. I don’t know, six, seven
laps maybe, and I was in the front two or three cars. I felt
balance-wise okay, just a little bit draggy. I felt like people could
pass me earlier down the straightaway than when I would pass them, it
would be later down the straightaway. I think we could work on that
probably and work on the balance maybe a little bit, but I could also do
some things differently in the cockpit. I was more so just trying to hit
my marks today than worry about adjusting on things.
I think we can get better, but it was a good start today.
Q. Do you have the weight jacker down and everything —
KYLE LARSON: I’m not touching that thing for qualifying.