Indy 500 Open Testing Day 1: Crashes, Failures, and Top Performers
The excitement is building as teams kicked off their on-track preparations for the upcoming Indianapolis 500.
The first day of open testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway featured high-speed action, mechanical failures, and a few close calls.
Drivers and teams fine-tuned their strategies and vehicles.
Some familiar faces emerged at the top of the timing charts, while others faced challenges that could impact their performance in the main event.
Day 1 Highlights: Speed and Skill on Display
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Wednesday’s open test session was a showcase of speed and skill, with Honda-powered cars dominating the top positions.
All three Meyer Shank Racing cars finished in the top eight, highlighting their strong performance.
The session concluded with 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon posting the fastest lap of the day at 225.182 mph.
He narrowly edged out two-time defending race-winner Josef Newgarden.
Top Performers
The top three fastest laps were recorded by former Indy 500 winners:
- Scott Dixon – 225.182 mph
- Josef Newgarden – 225.125 mph
- Takuma Sato – 225.069 mph
Challenges and Mechanical Failures
Many drivers enjoyed successful runs, but the day was not without its challenges.
Graham Rahal experienced the most dramatic moment, suffering the lone contact incident of the day.
Rahal’s No. 15 Honda tagged the wall twice with its right-rear tires in the north short chute, leading to a caution.
Despite the scare, Rahal avoided a more serious accident and finished 14th on the timing charts with a fastest lap of 222.919 mph.
Mechanical Issues
Several drivers faced mechanical problems that hindered their performance:
- Jack Harvey of Dreyer and Reinbold Racing experienced a hybrid issue early in the day, bringing out a caution.
- Santino Ferrucci of AJ Foyt Racing suffered an engine failure just four laps into his afternoon session, resulting in smoke billowing from his car.
- Rinus VeeKay of Dale Coyne Racing missed the entire first veteran-only session due to “technical gremlins” spotted by his team.
These setbacks placed Harvey, Ferrucci, and VeeKay among the bottom six on the timing charts.
Rookies and New Teams
The open test also provided a glimpse into the performance of Indy 500 rookies and new teams.
Nolan Siegel and Jacob Abel finished near the bottom of the timing charts, while Prema’s Callum Ilott and his rookie teammate Robert Shwartzman also struggled to find speed.
Notable Rookie and New Team Performances
- Nolan Siegel – 31st, 220.168 mph
- Jacob Abel – 34th, 218.738 mph
- Callum Ilott – 32nd, 219.852 mph
- Robert Shwartzman – 28th, 220.414 mph
Technical Alliances and Team Performances
Meyer Shank Racing’s strong performance is partly attributed to their new technical alliance with Chip Ganassi Racing for the 2025 season.
This collaboration saw five of the field’s six CGR-engineered cars finish in the top eight on the timing charts.
Andretti Global also showcased their prowess, with three drivers finishing in the top ten.
Top Team Performances
Highlighted team and driver performances include:
- Marcus Armstrong – 4th, 224.987 mph
- Helio Castroneves – 7th, 224.447 mph
- Felix Rosenqvist – 8th, 223.735 mph
- Colton Herta – 5th, 224.857 mph
- Marco Andretti – 9th, 223.602 mph
- Kyle Kirkwood – 10th, 223.450 mph
Looking Ahead: High-Boost Session
Thursday’s high-boost session will be a critical component of the open test, allowing drivers to simulate qualifying conditions with increased boost levels.
This session, requested by Honda and Chevy officials, aims to help teams better understand the impact of the new hybrid system on their cars.
What to Expect
The high-boost session will run from 9:30 a.m. to noon, with single- and four-lap averages being monitored.
This will provide an early indication of which drivers and teams have found speed and who may need to make adjustments ahead of qualifying weekend.
Conclusion
The first day of the Indy 500 open test featured high-speed action and mechanical challenges. Honda-powered cars led the pack.
Several teams showed strong performances. The upcoming high-boost session will give more insight into which teams are ready for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
For more information on the day’s events and a full breakdown of the timing charts, visit the IndyStar.
