Scott Dixon led the Miller Lite Corp Day final practice for the 108th Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, “two days before the biggest spectacle in racing” as Honda-powered drivers reversed the qualifying schedule. „
Dixon, a six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion, won the race in 2008, clocking 227.206 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. It was the ninth time in the last 10 years that Dixon has finished in the top four of the pace table in final practice.
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Dixon will finish 21st in Sunday’s race (11 a.m. ET, NBC, Universo, Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network) but hopes he can climb through the field for a long-awaited second „500” win.
„We came out pretty good,” Dixon said. „It was a good day. The car looks really fast, pulls up well, pretty consistent.
„I think you have to take the moment as it is. You don’t want to rush it too much (with early race passes). We’ve got some positions to make. I hope to go up as quickly as possible. I’d like to pass all 20 cars (in front of me) on the first lap, but that’s not going to happen. .
Chevrolet-powered drivers rounded out the top eight during last Sunday’s PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying, with the Team Penske trio of Scott McLaughlin, Will Power and Joseph Newgarden sweeping the front row, respectively. But the Honda-powered drivers bounced back during two hours of practice on the 2.5-mile oval on Friday, claiming seven of the top 10 spots on the pace charts.
Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves finished second on Sunday with a 226.939 in the Mayer Shank Racing field with Curb-Agajanian. Castroneves, 49, starts his only race this season on Sunday 20.
„These boys are doing an amazing job,” Castroneves said. „They’re not at all like they once were (one start this season). It’s like me: As you get older, you get better — like fine wine. Great job.
„We’re going to do some work in the race, but the overall vibe is incredible.”
Pado O’Ward, who qualified eighth, was the first Chevy driver in final practice with a 226.666 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Colton Herda continued his strong performance in traffic during practice at this event, with Curb-Agajanian in Andretti Global’s no. 26 Cainbridge finished fourth at 226.220 on the Honda.
No. fielded by Meyer Shank Racing. Rookie Tom Blomqvist, No. 25 in the ’66 AutoNation/Arctic Wolf Honda, rounded out the top five with a 225.450. Felix Rosenqvist, starting ninth, is no. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda finished eighth at 225.310.
No. 3 Benzoil finished 20th in the Team Penske Chevrolet with a score of 224.264. Power, starting second, finished 21st at 224.253 in the No. 12 Verizon Commercial Team Penske Chevrolet. Reigning race winner Newgarden, in his third start, was 32nd in the 33-car field at 222.847 at 222.847.
Despite only lasting two hours, the 33 cars completed 2,721 laps in the busiest session of the month.
The session was slowed by two cautions, one for debris and a toe-in for heralded rookie Kyle Larson, whose No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet ran out of fuel. 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Larson, the top seed in fifth, will try to complete the „double” race in Sunday’s „500” and NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
„My car handling was good,” Larson said. “The (aerodynamic tow) didn’t absorb as well as I thought it would on Monday. Pit stop stuff, need to know more about it. It’s a little different than a NASCAR pit stop.
„I felt comfortable with all of that. I feel like we checked a lot of boxes before the race.
The general drivers’ meeting, at 10:30 a.m. ET Saturday, is the only official ceremony remaining at IMS for the 33-driver field before the race.
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