Top Speeds and Fastest Laps at 2025 Indianapolis 500 Open Test
The Indianapolis 500 is one of the most anticipated events in motorsports. Excitement is building as drivers and teams prepare for the big race on May 25.
This past Thursday, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted an open test session. Fans got a sneak peek into the performance of the cars and drivers.
The session was eventful, featuring high speeds, crashes, and the first full-field action with the new hybrid engines.
High Speeds and Crashes: A Thrilling Morning Session
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The morning session was a Fast Friday simulation. Cars were allowed extra horsepower to mimic qualifying conditions for May 17-18.
The increased power led to impressive speeds. Scott McLaughlin clocked the fastest lap at 232.686 mph.
Other top performers were Takuma Sato (232.565 mph) and Will Power (232.278 mph). Both Kyle Larson and Takuma Sato crashed while trying out their qualifying setups.
Top Lap Times from the Morning Session
- Scott McLaughlin: 232.686 mph
- Takuma Sato: 232.565 mph
- Will Power: 232.278 mph
- Felix Rosenqvist: 232.100 mph
- Alex Palou: 231.843 mph
- Scott Dixon: 231.580 mph
- Kyle Kirkwood: 231.464 mph
- Colton Herta: 231.463 mph
- Josef Newgarden: 231.229 mph
- Kyffin Simpson: 230.323 mph
Qualifying Setups: The Real Test of Speed
Many morning laps were helped by an aerodynamic tow from a leading car. During qualifying, cars run alone on the track for a more accurate speed test.
The top lap times without the aerodynamic tow were a bit lower but still fast. Takuma Sato led with 232.565 mph, followed by Kyle Kirkwood (231.464 mph) and Scott McLaughlin (230.283 mph).
Top Lap Times Without Aerodynamic Tow
- Takuma Sato: 232.565 mph
- Kyle Kirkwood: 231.464 mph
- Scott McLaughlin: 230.283 mph
- Louis Foster: 230.263 mph
- Kyffin Simpson: 230.188 mph
- Colton Herta: 230.006 mph
- Josef Newgarden: 229.832 mph
- Pato O’Ward: 229.735 mph
- Will Power: 229.727 mph
- Graham Rahal: 229.634 mph
Afternoon Session: Race Trim and Consistency
In the afternoon, drivers switched to race trim with less horsepower. These setups are designed for race conditions.
This session helped teams gather data on how their cars would perform over longer runs. Felix Rosenqvist and Scott McLaughlin completed 112 laps each, while Ryan Hunter-Reay ran just 22 laps.
Speeds were lower than in the morning. The focus was on consistency and reliability.
Top Lap Times in Race Trim
- Alex Palou: 223.993 mph
- Felix Rosenqvist: 223.366 mph
- Kyle Kirkwood: 223.362 mph
- Conor Daly: 223.298 mph
- Josef Newgarden: 223.255 mph
- Helio Castroneves: 223.234 mph
- Scott Dixon: 223.150 mph
- Pato O’Ward: 223.042 mph
- Graham Rahal: 222.875 mph
- Marco Andretti: 222.784 mph
Looking Ahead: The Road to the Indianapolis 500
As we look forward to the Indianapolis 500, the data from this open test session provides valuable insights into what we can expect on race day.
The introduction of hybrid engines has added a new layer of complexity and excitement to the competition.
Teams will continue to fine-tune their setups in the coming weeks. They are aiming for the perfect balance between speed and reliability.
This year’s race promises to be one of the most thrilling in recent memory for fans.
Drivers like Scott McLaughlin, Takuma Sato, and Will Power have shown impressive speeds. The added unpredictability of crashes and mechanical issues makes the 2025 Indianapolis 500 a must-watch event.
For more detailed information on the open test session, you can read the full article on the Indianapolis Star.
Get ready for the roar of the engines and the spectacle that is the Indianapolis 500!
