Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato in the No.11 Deloitte Chip Ganassi Racing Honda confirmed this week that the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge next weekend would be his last race with Ganassi was the fastest overall with a speed of 229.439MPH ending the day just ahead of his teammate and 2008 champion, Scott Dixon, in the No.9 PNC Bank Honda who set a speed of 229.174MPH.
It was a fantastic day for AJ Foyt Racing as Santino Ferrucci was third fastest with a speed of 228.977MPH, while Alex Palou was fourth fastest for Chip Ganassi Racing. Speaking to Paddock Eye following the action, Takuma Sato said it has been fantastic to work with fellow Indianapolis 500 winners Marcus Ericsson and Scott Dixon and championship-winning drivers such as Alex Palou. Sato told us that it has been great working with Dixon having been aginst him in other teams over the years he has been happy that they can share ideas with each other to help move Chip Ganassi Racing forward.
Scott McLaughlin was the fastest Team Penske car, with a speed of 228.473MPH, ending the day just ahead of Colton Herta and Marcus Ericsson. It was a great day for Dreyer and Reinbold Racing’s Ryan Hunter Reay, who set 227.619MPH, while Josef Newgarden was ninth. Andretti Autosport’s Marco Andretti rounded out the top ten on his return to the track with a speed of 226.982MPH.
Jack Harvey was 11th for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, ahead of Will PPower and Graham Rahal. Conor Daly was 14th, while it was a great day for Dreyer and Reinbold Racing with Cusick Motorsports Stefan Wilson, who was 15th with a speed of 226.285MPH.
David Malukas was 16th, just ahead of Simon Pagenaud. Rinus VeeKay was 18th, just ahead of Arrow McLaren’s Alexander Rossi and Pato O’Ward. Benjamin Pedersen was 21st with a speed of 225.480MPH just ahead of Agustin Canapino and Tony Kanaan while Helio Castroneves and Kyle Kirkwood were 24th and 25th, respectively.
Sting Ray Robb was 26th for Dale Coyne with RWR with a 224.609MPH. 27th just ahead of Ed Carpenter and Andretti Autosport’s Devlin DeFrancesco and Romain Grosjean.
Katherine Legge was 31st in the No.44 Hendrickson Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing was 31st with a speed of 224.461MPH, ending the session just ahead of Christian Lundgaard. RC Enerson was 33rd in the No.50 Abel Motorsports Chevrolet was 33rd with a speed of 224.017MPH. Callum Ilott rounded out the order in 34th place for Juncos Hollinger Racing.