There was plenty of drama on Monday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as teams practiced for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 (noon ET, FOX) and major penalties were handed out to two teams.
In weather conditions (light winds and temperatures in the mid-70s) expected to be like race day, Alex Palou, in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, delivered the fastest lap (226.765 mph) of the two-hour session, followed by four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves and Takuma Sato.
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NASCAR’s Kyle Larson turned in the 11th-quickest lap (225.056 mph) as he re-familiarized himself with the No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. The car came into Monday’s practice with only two four-lap qualifying runs after repairs were necessary following Larson’s crash late in Fast Friday’s final pre-qualifying practice.
The NASCAR Cup Series championship leader turned 82 laps in Monday’s session and was consistently among the fastest 10 cars. His team opted to hold pit-stop practice in the closing minutes of the session.
“I thought it was decent,” Larson said. “Just trying to get a little racy at times to learn a little bit, but it’s so different in practice, I feel like more accordion opens up passing, where in the race, it’s a little more difficult to pass. It feels a little bit different than last year.”
Larson is set to become the fifth driver to compete in both the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (6 p.m. ET, Sun., Prime Video, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) on the same day, securing his starting position on the 33-car Indy grid with a 21st-place qualifying effort on Saturday.
The 32-year-old Californian started fifth and finished 18th in last year’s Indy debut.
However, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion returned from a 21st-place finish in Sunday night’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway to find out he will actually roll off 19th in the 500. He — and the rest of the field — were moved up two positions on the starting grid Monday after a major penalty was handed to a pair of former race winners, Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden and Will Power.
Newgarden, who has won the last two Indy 500s, and Power, the 2018 Indianapolis winner, both originally advanced to Sunday’s Fast 12 qualifying session and looked to contend for pole position. Instead, officials found technical infractions — modified attenuators — on both their Chevrolets just before they went on track. The cars were pulled off the qualifying line and Monday morning the IndyCar Series announced significant penalties.
Instead of top-12 starting positions on the grid, Newgarden and Power will roll off Sunday from 32nd and 33rd place, respectively. Team Penske has been fined $100,000 for each car. Both teams’ race strategists were suspended for Sunday’s Indy 500 and the cars forfeited Indianapolis 500 qualification points.
Penske’s third car, the No. 3 driven by Scott McLaughlin, had a big crash Sunday before the top-12 pole qualifying session. IndyCar officials did not find the same altered parts on McLaughlin’s car, so he will still start 10th.
The setbacks didn’t seem to affect their pace Monday. Power was seventh-quickest, and Newgarden eighth. McLaughlin only ran eight laps to shake down his car’s repairs.
Prema Racing’s Robert Shwartzman, 25, the first rookie in 43 years to win the Indy 500 pole position, was 26th on Monday’s speed chart.
The traditional two-hour final Indianapolis 500 practice, “Carburetion Day” will take place Friday from 11-1 p.m. ET, followed by the popular “Pit Stop Challenge” at 2:30 p.m. ET.