Indy 500 | Practice 1 | Power fastest as Penske and Ganassi dominate fastest speed chart - Motorsport

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After a delay of over 2½ hours due to drizzle in the Indianapolis area and at the circuit, the IndyCar drivers finally took to the iconic oval track at just after 2:30pm on Tuesday for Practice 1 ahead of the Indy 500, full report and results below. Tony Kanaan’s refresher program was pushed back to Wednesday because of it.

Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong was the first driver to do any reasonable kind of speed, clocking a 216.201mph lap.

Two-time Indy 500 champion Josef Newgarden was the first driver to go above 220mph in Practice 1. He did a 221.466 initially, before logging a 224.319 to start well. However, Scott Dixon would soon take over at the top as a 225.059 was aided by a handy tow like Newgarden.

Dixon, Newgarden, Armstrong, Malukas, Rosenqvist, Herta, Larson, Ericsson, Ferrucci and Lundgaard was the top 10 with three hours left.

Brazilian and four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves joined Dixon and Newgarden at the front as he moved into 2nd on a 224.523mph.

Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden returned to the front as he put in a 226.971mph to go almost 2mph faster than the Kiwi in the CGR. It became an all Indy 500 winners club in the top 4 as ECR’s Alex Rossi slotted in behind Castroneves.

Inside the final two hours, a familiar name moved himself towards the front as runaway 2025 championship leader Alex Palou moved himself into P3, putting in a 224.599mph.

With 90 minutes left, Newgarden led Dixon, McLaughlin, Palou, Castroneves, Rossi, Armstrong, Ericsson, Andretti and Power.

It was not a good opening day for PREMA as they did not hit the track until late in the day, losing over 2 hours of running. Callum Ilott finally got a lap on the board for them before a caution was thrown with 74 minutes left as a track inspection took place, although it was not because rain had fallen.

Robert Shwartzman appeared on track after the green flag was thrown, outpacing his teammate by less than a mile per hour as they slotted into 33rd and 34th.

Into the final hour, Will Power went to the top as he did a 227.026 to jump ahead of teammate Josef Newgarden. Alex Palou moved into P3 on a 226.673. Dixon, McLaughlin, Castroneves, Rossi, Armstrong, Ericsson and Andretti completed the top 10.

A caution was thrown with 34 minutes remaining because of lightening in the Indianapolis area. The running was halted for the day.