As the IndyCar field finished at the Indy Road Course, teams arrived in Indianapolis for the Indianapolis 500, and there had already been plenty of buildup and key developments shaping the atmosphere ahead of the race. From pre-event testing and team preparations to emerging storylines surrounding form, strategy, and standout drivers, the paddock was busy with activity that set the tone for one of the biggest events in motorsport.
Open Testing
Open Test Day One
Day One of the IndyCar Open Test provided teams with their first meaningful opportunity to evaluate new setups, aero developments, and overall car balance ahead of the Indianapolis 500. Stable weather and track conditions throughout the session allowed drivers to complete productive long runs, giving engineers valuable early data and offering a clearer picture of the competitive order heading into the season.
The biggest story of the day was the impressive pace shown by Team Penske. David Malukas topped the timing charts with a fastest lap of roughly 172.6 mph, immediately signaling the team’s intent for the month of May. He was closely followed by teammate Josef Newgarden, giving Penske a commanding one-two at the top of the order, while Will Power also demonstrated strong pace throughout the day. Penske appeared especially competitive in both qualifying simulations and extended race runs, suggesting the team already holds an early advantage in outright speed and overall balance.
Meanwhile, Chip Ganassi Racing took a more measured approach. Alex Palou comfortably finished inside the top five but focused primarily on long-run consistency rather than headline lap times. Ganassi’s approach appeared centered on tyre management, race-day stability, and fuel efficiency, hinting at a strategy built more around consistency than pure pace.
The midfield remained exceptionally close, with drivers such as Marcus Armstrong and Felix Rosenqvist showing encouraging speed. Teams across the paddock concentrated heavily on aero efficiency, tyre degradation, and hybrid deployment strategies, while a clean, incident-free session ensured uninterrupted data collection.
Overall, the opening day suggested an intensely competitive season ahead, with Penske setting the benchmark for speed, Ganassi emphasizing consistency, and the midfield appearing tighter than ever.
Timings for day one: IndyCar
Open Test Day Two
Day Two of the IndyCar Open Test was heavily disrupted early by poor weather conditions and a damp circuit, delaying the start of meaningful running at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Once the track began to dry, teams were able to complete valuable mileage, and all 33 Indianapolis 500 entries still managed to get track time across the day. Despite the interruptions, both sessions provided important early-season data ahead of the Month of May.
The morning session delivered one of the biggest surprises of the test as rookie Caio Collet topped the timing charts. He showed strong confidence and pace on the oval, quickly drawing attention in the paddock. Josef Newgarden followed closely in second for Team Penske, while Conor Daly completed a highly competitive top three, underlining how tight the field was across multiple teams.
In the afternoon session, focus shifted toward race-trim running and longer stints. Newgarden again stood out by setting the fastest pace of the session, reinforcing Penske’s strong early form. Álex Palou placed second for Chip Ganassi Racing, continuing the team’s consistent strength in long-run performance. Pato O’Ward and Daly also remained competitive near the front, highlighting the depth across the grid.
Several interruptions affected the day, including cautions and minor incidents. One notable setback involved Jack Harvey, whose running ended early due to an engine failure. Even so, teams still gathered substantial data once conditions improved.
Across the first two days, a clear pattern emerged: Penske looked strongest on outright pace, Ganassi focused on consistency and race balance, while midfield and rookie drivers showed flashes of real competitiveness. Overall, Day Two reinforced just how closely matched and unpredictable the 2026 IndyCar field appears heading toward the Indianapolis 500.
Timings for day two: IndyCar
Practice One
The opening practice session for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 focused on teams settling into race-week preparations at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Throughout the session, drivers prioritized traffic running, aerodynamic balance, and long-run consistency over outright qualifying pace. The atmosphere was measured and methodical, with both Honda and Chevrolet teams appearing closely matched across the field.
Álex Palou topped the session for Chip Ganassi Racing with a late lap of 225.937 mph after steadily refining balance and setup. Marcus Armstrong also impressed for Meyer Shank Racing, consistently running near the top and showing strong race-trim pace throughout the afternoon.
Conor Daly was the fastest Chevrolet-powered runner, with his team focusing heavily on traffic performance and stability in dirty air. Kyle Kirkwood led the no-tow charts, highlighting strong raw pace for Andretti Global.
Several experienced contenders, including Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin, Graham Rahal, and Alexander Rossi, focused on long-run data, pack racing, and setup refinement. Rossi completed the most laps of the field, emphasizing endurance and data collection over headline speed.
One of the key stories was the clean running, with no major incidents despite heavy pack sessions. Improvements to Turn 2 were widely praised, with the surface appearing smoother and more predictable than in previous years. Overall, the opening practice highlighted an extremely tight and competitive field heading into qualifying week.
The session reinforced how closely matched the grid appears entering the Month of May. Teams balanced qualifying simulations with race-trim programs, while Ganassi and Penske showed early strength. Midfield and rookie entries also remained competitive, suggesting multiple potential race winners depending on traffic, strategy, and conditions at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Practice one: IndyCar
Practice Two
The second day of Indianapolis 500 practice saw a clear step up in intensity as teams became more comfortable with race setups and evolving track conditions. The focus shifted toward higher-speed performance runs, with drivers beginning to explore qualifying-style pace while still gathering essential data in traffic. As grip levels improved and temperatures fluctuated, lap times steadily increased compared to the opening session, highlighting how close the competitive order appeared across the field.
Multiple drivers briefly rotated through the top of the timing sheets as conditions changed. Team Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, Andretti Global, and Arrow McLaren all looked firmly in contention, with minimal differences in outright pace. Cooler track conditions later in the day further compressed the field as speeds increased.
Kyle Kirkwood once again impressed for Andretti Global, showing strong consistency in both clean air and traffic. His confidence and stability continued to mark him as a potential pole contender. Álex Palou remained highly competitive for Chip Ganassi Racing, delivering smooth and balanced long-run performance.
Veterans including Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon, and Will Power focused heavily on pack running to simulate race conditions, with an emphasis on tyre wear, fuel mileage, and stability in turbulent air. Alexander Rossi again completed a high lap count, prioritising endurance and setup refinement.
A key theme of the day was the gradual shift toward qualifying preparation, with teams trimming cars for higher top-end speed while maintaining control in traffic. Despite the increased intensity, the session remained clean and consistent throughout.
Overall Outlook after Practice Two
Overall, Practice Two reinforced how tightly packed the 2026 Indianapolis 500 field appears. Multiple teams demonstrated front-running pace, and the margin between contenders remained extremely small heading toward qualifying weekend.
Practice two: IndyCar
Practice Three
The third practice session for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 marked a clear escalation in intensity as teams shifted deeper into qualifying preparation ahead of Fast Friday. With boost levels and trim settings gradually increasing, drivers spent much of the six-hour session alternating between race-traffic simulations and increasingly aggressive qualifying-style runs. As a result, speeds rose across the board, offering a sharper indication of which teams may contend for pole position and race victory.
Pato O’Ward was the standout performer for Arrow McLaren, topping the session with a lap of 227.308 mph. After a relatively quiet start to the week, O’Ward and his crew appeared to unlock a stronger setup direction, with the car showing improved balance in both traffic and qualifying simulations. The pace jump positioned Arrow McLaren as a genuine threat heading into the high-speed phases of qualifying preparation.
Meyer Shank Racing also enjoyed one of its strongest collective performances of the week. Hélio Castroneves finished second fastest, while teammates Marcus Armstrong and Felix Rosenqvist remained consistently competitive throughout the day. The team’s cars appeared particularly stable in dirty air, reinforcing their potential as serious race-day contenders.
Alexander Rossi continued his strong week, placing inside the top five after benefiting from a fresh Chevrolet engine and focusing heavily on refining qualifying trim. Takuma Sato also drew attention by leading the no-tow speed charts at various points, highlighting strong raw pace without drafting assistance.
Team Penske showed steady progress as well, with Scott McLaughlin, Josef Newgarden, and Will Power all building momentum through increasingly representative qualifying simulations.
The session remained relatively clean, with only minor cautions for debris and a few technical issues. One unusual moment saw Rossi briefly affected by a cockpit system glitch that triggered false caution alerts, a situation that drew light commentary from broadcasters.
Fast Friday Preview and Field Outlook
A key storyline heading into Fast Friday is the expected jump in speeds once turbo boost is increased, with many predicting laps well above 230 mph. Teams are widely believed to still be masking true performance while fine-tuning qualifying setups. Overall, Practice Three reinforced how tightly packed the field remains, with multiple organizations showing credible speed to challenge for front-row positions and potentially the win at the Indianapolis 500.
Practice three: IndyCar
Fast Friday
Fast Friday for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 marked the final full practice session before qualifying weekend and delivered the highest speeds of the month at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With turbo boost levels increased for the first time all week, teams shifted almost entirely to qualifying simulations, producing dramatically faster laps but also much more sensitive and unpredictable car balance. Drivers frequently described the cars as being “on edge,” as even small corrections at speed had major effects on stability.
A two-hour rain delay shortened the session, leaving just five hours of usable track time once the circuit dried. When running resumed, speeds immediately surged beyond 230 mph as teams focused on four-lap qualifying simulations rather than race-traffic work. The contrast with earlier practice sessions was immediate, with much higher commitment levels and significantly reduced margins for error.
Felix Rosenqvist emerged as the standout performer, topping the session for Meyer Shank Racing with a blistering 233.372 mph lap, the first of the month to break the 233 mph barrier. His team also delivered one of the strongest overall qualifying packages, with multiple cars near the top of the charts. Rosenqvist credited setup changes made early in the day for unlocking unexpected speed, immediately placing Meyer Shank Racing among the leading pole contenders.
Pato O’Ward remained a central storyline after his strong earlier performances for Arrow McLaren, continuing to show confidence in both race and qualifying trim. He noted that the increased boost significantly altered car behaviour, especially through long full-throttle sections where commitment was critical.
Veterans, Rookies, and final qualifying Outlook
Veterans including Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, and Takuma Sato spent the session refining four-lap runs while carefully managing risk ahead of qualifying. Analysts suggested several top teams were still not fully revealing peak performance.
Rookies also gained attention, with Mick Schumacher, Dennis Hauger, and Caio Collet continuing to adapt quickly to high-boost oval conditions. Their progress was noted as one of the quieter but important stories of the week.
Overall, Fast Friday confirmed Meyer Shank Racing and Rosenqvist as major threats for pole position. With speeds exceeding 233 mph and multiple teams showing competitive pace, the stage was set for a highly competitive qualifying weekend.
Fast Friday: IndyCar
Practice Five Weather Update
Heavy rain at Indianapolis Motor Speedway forced the cancellation of Saturday morning’s pre-qualifying practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. INDYCAR confirmed that the next scheduled on-track session would be qualifying once the 2.5-mile oval had dried.
According to the official INDYCAR update, teams and officials monitored conditions throughout the day as rain continued to impact the Speedway area. Fans were advised to keep an eye on social media for any updates.
Weather update: IndyCar
Practice Six
Practice Six took place on Sunday morning after Saturday’s track time was cancelled due to persistent rain. The session was split into two groups and focused on final qualifying preparation. It included setup refinement, traffic running, and short qualifying simulations.
Several leading teams, including Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske, opted for limited running to avoid unnecessary risk before qualifying. Instead, attention centred on teams seeking marginal gains in speed and stability under changing track conditions. Drivers used the session primarily to fine-tune balance in dirty air around the Indianapolis oval.
Ongoing weather disruption throughout the weekend forced qualifying to be rescheduled entirely to Sunday for the first time since 2008. This change significantly increased pressure on teams, as each driver was guaranteed only a single four-lap qualifying attempt.
Practice Six therefore became a critical opportunity for final adjustments, with engineers prioritising consistency, reliability, and confidence-building runs. The shortened session also highlighted the importance of precision ahead of one of the most important qualifying days in the IndyCar calendar.
Qualifying draw
The qualifying draw further shaped strategy, determining the order in which drivers would attempt their runs. Track temperature, wind conditions, and rubber buildup were expected to play a major role, making early or late running positions potentially decisive.
Overall, Practice Six served as the final preparation stage before qualifying. Teams need to balance caution and performance ahead of the fight for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 pole position.
The official qualifying order
- Scott Dixon
- Christian Lundgaard
- Ryan Hunter-Reay
- Ed Carpenter
- Rinus VeeKay
- Scott McLaughlin
- Nolan Siegel
- Graham Rahal
- Josef Newgarden
- Will Power
- Felix Rosenqvist
- Santino Ferrucci
- Marcus Ericsson
- Conor Daly
- Mick Schumacher
- Romain Grosjean
- Marcus Armstrong
- Pato O’Ward
- David Malukas
- Alexander Rossi
- Dennis Hauger
- Sting Ray Robb
- Kyle Kirkwood
- Caio Collet
- Hélio Castroneves
- Takuma Sato
- Christian Rasmussen
- Louis Foster
- Kyffin Simpson
- Jack Harvey
- Álex Palou
- Jacob Abel
- Katherine Legge
Qualifying draw: IndyCar
A major talking point after the draw was how favourable the early positions appeared for some veterans. Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, and Will Power could benefit from cooler morning track conditions. Meanwhile, drivers like Alex Palou and Katherine Legge were placed near the end of the order, where changing weather and stronger winds could potentially make qualifying more difficult.
The event also highlighted the revised 2026 qualifying format. Saturday locked in positions 16 through 33, while the fastest 15 drivers advanced to Sunday. The top nine from Saturday automatically moved into the Top 12 round, while positions ten through 15 competed in a “Final 15” session for the remaining three transfer spots. From there, the fastest six drivers advanced into the Firestone Fast Six shootout for pole position.
Much of the discussion centred on how Indianapolis qualifying was about maintaining speed and stability over four consecutive laps. Teams immediately began evaluating how weather conditions, track evolution, and qualifying position could influence their chances.
Weather Delays
Persistent rain at Indianapolis Motor Speedway forced INDYCAR officials to postpone Day One of qualifying for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, moving the full qualifying program to Sunday, May 17.
According to IndyCar, qualifying began at noon ET Sunday after split-group practice sessions starting at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Updated Format
All 33 drivers lined up based on Friday’s qualifying draw order and received one four-lap qualifying attempt. Those initial runs set positions 13–33 on the starting grid.
The fastest 12 drivers from the opening round advanced into the Top 12 qualifying session at approximately 4:30 p.m. ET. Drivers in the Top 12 round ran in reverse order based on their earlier qualifying speeds.
Because of the weather delays and the compressed Sunday schedule, INDYCAR eliminated the Top 15 phase and instead returned directly to the more familiar Top 12 knockout format used previously at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The streamlined format allowed officials enough time to complete both the Top 12 session and the Firestone Fast Six before the end of the day.
From there, the fastest six cars advanced into the Firestone Fast Six shootout to battle for pole position and the prestigious NTT P1 Award for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Firestone Fast Six and Championship Points
The pole winner will earn:
- Pole position for the Indianapolis 500
- The $100,000 NTT P1 Award prize
- 12 championship points
Points then decreased by one-point increments through 12th position.
INDYCAR also announced mandatory cool-down laps before the Top 12 and Firestone Fast Six rounds, with cars circulating behind the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X pace car at 100 mph to help cool engines before the next qualifying segment.
Qualifying
Original qualifying format
Because of the weather delays, there was a growing possibility that parts of qualifying needed to continue or be adjusted into Sunday if enough track time could not be completed Saturday. Multiple reports Saturday afternoon indicated persistent rain was delaying the start of qualifying activities.
The current Indianapolis 500 qualifying format was already split across two days, with positions 16–33 typically locked in on Saturday and the Fast 12 / Fast Six sessions scheduled for Sunday. Weather disruptions could further compress or alter that timetable depending on how much running was completed that day by 5:50pm ET.
Updated qualifying format
- Alex Palou
- Alexander Rossi
- David Malukas
- Felix Rosenqvist
- Santino Ferrucci
- Pato O’Ward
- Kyffin Simpson
- Conor Daly
- Scott Mclaughlin
- Scott Dixon
- Rinus VeeKay
- Takuma Sato
- Ed Carpenter
- Helio Castroneves
- Christian Rasmussen
- Marcus Armstrong
- Marcus Ericsson
- Christian Lundgaard
- Will Power
- Nolan Seigel
- Louis Foster
- Ryan Hunter-Reay
- Josef Newgarden
- Romain Grosjean
- Kyle Kirkwood
- Katherine Legge
- Mick Schumacher
- Graham Rahal
- Dennis Hauger
- Jacob Abel
- Sting Ray Robb
- Ciao collet
- Jack Harvey
Qualifying for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 became one of the most dramatic sessions in recent memory after rain forced the entire format into a single day. Drivers had limited chances to secure grid positions, and constantly changing track conditions increased the pressure on every run. At speeds exceeding 230 mph, teams were forced to balance outright pace with stability over four-lap averages.
Álex Palou delivered the standout performance, securing pole position for the 110th Indianapolis 500 with a 232.248 mph average for Chip Ganassi Racing. Alexander Rossi and David Malukas completed the front row, while Felix Rosenqvist, Santino Ferrucci, and Pato O’Ward rounded out the Fast Six.
The Top 12 session produced major shocks, with Scott McLaughlin and Scott Dixon both missing the final shootout. McLaughlin qualified ninth after balance issues, while Dixon ended up eleventh. Other eliminations included Kyffin Simpson, Conor Daly, Caio Collet, and Rinus VeeKay.
Several experienced Indy 500 winners also struggled early, including Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Marcus Ericsson, Takuma Sato, Hélio Castroneves, and Ed Carpenter, all starting further back than expected.
Post-Qualifying Penalties and final Grid Changes
The weekend became more controversial after INDYCAR issued penalties to the No. 4 A.J. Foyt Enterprises entry driven by Caio Collet and the No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing car driven by Jack Harvey. Officials found unapproved modifications to Energy Management System components supplied by Dallara, violating technical regulations.
Both cars were disqualified from their original positions and moved to the rear of the 33-car grid based on entrant points. Collet dropped from 10th to 32nd, while Harvey fell from 29th to 33rd. Collet also lost qualifying points earned in the Top 12 session.
Despite the controversy, Palou retained pole position, with the final grid reshaped but the front-running result unchanged after his dominant Fast Six performance.
Practice Seven
Practice Seven for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 was one of the most chaotic sessions of the week, defined by multiple high-speed crashes that disrupted final race preparations at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Drivers including Álex Palou, Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon, Alexander Rossi, Pato O’Ward, and Romain Grosjean were completing final setups when incidents began to unfold.
The biggest moments came from heavy crashes involving Rossi and O’Ward, both hitting the outside wall at high speed during qualifying-style runs. Rossi’s impact caused significant damage and a long delay for SAFER barrier repairs, while O’Ward’s crash added another major caution period. A later, smaller incident involving Grosjean added to the disruption.
After the accidents, INDYCAR safety crews responded quickly, and all drivers were checked and cleared at the infield medical centre. The crashes created an emotional atmosphere throughout the paddock, as teams balanced concern over damaged equipment with relief that no serious injuries were reported. Teams then shifted focus toward caution and stability rather than outright speed.
The session resumed briefly before incoming thunderstorms at Indianapolis Motor Speedway brought Practice Seven to an early end. Overall, the session highlighted how fine the margins were at Indianapolis, with limited remaining practice time heading into the Indianapolis 500 weekend.
At the end of the press conference, the doctor (Dr Julia Vaizer) at the medical centre confirmed that Rossi had been checked, evaluated, and released following his crash, with Dave Furst quoting “Alexander Rossi is awake and alert and in good spirits, still undergoing evaluation in the infield medical centre.”.
Carb day
Carb Day final practice for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 served as the last on-track session before race day, with teams focusing primarily on race-trim balance, fuel mileage, pit entry procedures, and traffic running rather than outright speed. The two-hour session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway gave drivers one final opportunity to fine-tune their cars before “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Josef Newgarden finished fastest in the final practice session, reinforcing Team Penske’s strong pace heading into race day. His speed during the closing rehearsal sent another warning to the rest of the field that Penske remained a major contender despite earlier qualifying drama.
Much of the attention also centred on Alexander Rossi following his frightening crash earlier in the week during Practice Seven. Rossi was officially cleared for racing after medical evaluations and returned to the track for final preparations ahead of the Indianapolis 500.
Several contenders, including Álex Palou, Scott Dixon, and Will Power, completed long traffic runs while engineers monitored tyre wear, fuel strategy, and aerodynamic balance. Teams generally avoided risky qualifying-style runs, instead concentrating on pack racing and protecting equipment before Sunday’s race.
The atmosphere throughout the session felt far calmer than the crash-filled practices earlier in the week, as teams prioritised clean laps and final setup checks. Commentators repeatedly highlighted how competitive and unpredictable the 2026 Indy 500 field looked heading into race weekend, with multiple teams appearing capable of challenging for victory.
Overall, Carb Day final practice acted as a controlled final rehearsal for the Indianapolis 500, allowing teams to complete last-minute checks while giving drivers one final opportunity to build confidence before race day.
Feature Image Credit: IndyCar
About The Author
Leave a Reply