WILL POWER – INDYCAR PHOTO
INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 13, 2025) – Team Penske and Chip Ganassi
Racing – two of the most storied teams in INDYCAR SERIES history –
dominated the opening day of practice for the 109th Indianapolis 500
presented by Gainbridge on Tuesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power led a Team Penske 1-2 on the
speed charts in a weather-shortened session at 227.026 in the No. 12
Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, a hot lap in the last 30 minutes of
practice. Two-time defending “500” winner Josef Newgarden was second
at 226.971 in the No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Team Penske Chevrolet.
Newgarden is trying to become the first driver to win “The Greatest
Spectacle in Racing” three consecutive years.
Practice started two hours, 32 minutes late due to intermittent rain and
damp track conditions, and the session ended 32 minutes early due to
lightning strikes within the vicinity of the historic 2.5-mile oval.
“I think we’ve got a pretty good baseline,” Power said. “My
teammates are pretty good. I learned a thing or two off them. It’s
(Indianapolis 500) almost its own championship in itself. You’ve got
to look for your weaknesses and improve.”
Dominant NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader Alex Palou was the fastest of
the Ganassi stable, third at 226.673 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi
Racing Honda. Three-time series champion Palou has won four of the first
five races this season, including the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday on
the IMS road course, as he aims to earn his first Indianapolis 500
victory and his third consecutive season title.
Six-time series champion and 2008 “500” winner Scott Dixon was
fourth at 225.059 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. 2024
“500” pole winner Scott McLaughlin was the third Team Penske driver
in the top five with his best lap of 225.005 in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team
Penske Chevrolet.
Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves was fastest among
drivers from other teams, sixth at 224.523 in the No. 06 Cliffs Honda
fielded by Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian.
All 34 drivers attempting to earn one of the 33 spots in the starting
field turned a total of 1,549 laps (3,872.5 miles) in the shortened
session today.
On-track activity will resume at 10 a.m. Wednesday with a refresher test
for 2013 “500” winner and Arrow McLaren Team Principal Tony Kanaan,
who is readying to be a standby driver for Kyle Larson on Race Day.
Larson is attempting the “double” of racing in the Indy 500 and the
NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 25. Kanaan will step in
for Larson if weather delays the start in Indianapolis and Larson must
leave for Charlotte for his full-time drive with Hendrick Motorsports.
The track will be open for practice for all cars from noon-6 p.m.
(noon-4 p.m., FS2; 4-6 p.m., FS1; FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio
Network).
The 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for
Sunday, May 25 (10 a.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR
Radio Network).