Penske Leads in 'Fast Friday' with Eyes on Indianapolis 500 Qualifying

The top speed reached on 'Fast Friday' suggests that the pole speed record for the Indianapolis 500 could be broken this Sunday, with Team Penske leading the way.
Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin, and Will Power, all Penske drivers, recorded the fastest times during qualifying simulations in Friday's practice for the 108th edition of the Indianapolis 500. Attention now shifts to the weekend qualifying sessions on the 2.5-mile oval.

Newgarden, the current Indianapolis 500 winner, achieved an average speed of 234.063 mph in his best four-lap qualifying simulation with the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet. Reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou set the event record last year with an average speed of 234.217 mph.
Honda and Chevrolet engines, with an increase of 100 horsepower due to higher boost levels, allowed speeds to soar on Friday. This power increase will be available during the weekend's qualifying sessions.

"Today we are testing and everyone is testing," said Newgarden, a two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion. "We have to be pleased with what we've seen, but it will be harder tomorrow and even harder on Sunday."

The qualifying sessions for PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying begin on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5:50 p.m., preceded by a practice session from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Saturday will determine positions 13-30 on the starting grid, while Sunday will decide the remaining positions.

McLaughlin was the second fastest with 233.623 mph in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet, followed by Power with 233.451 mph in the No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet. Alexander Rossi and Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren completed the top five.

Colton Herta of Andretti Global w/ Curb-Agajanian was the fastest in a single lap with 234.974 mph in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. Herta expressed his satisfaction with the performance, although he acknowledged they need more speed for qualifying simulations.
Rookie Kyle Larson recorded the second fastest lap with 234.271 mph in the No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, and placed tenth in qualifying simulations with 232.549 mph. Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, will attempt to compete in both the “500” and the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 26.

During the six-hour session, the 34 drivers completed 990 laps. There was one incident when rookie Nolan Siegel lost control in Turn 2, hit the SAFER Barrier, and his car slid on its left side. Siegel was unharmed, but his car suffered considerable damage.