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Pato O’Ward Ready to Dominate ‘Fast Friday’ After Top Indy Practice
Highlights
- Pato O’Ward set fastest lap at 227.308 mph on Thursday practice
- Helio Castroneves posted second-fastest lap at 226.977 mph
- Fast Friday brings 100 more horsepower, boosting speeds
- All 33 cars completed 1,469 laps without incidents Thursday
- Indy 500 race scheduled for Sunday, May 24, at 10 a.m. ET
Pato O’Ward topped Thursday practice for the 110th Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, recording 227.308 mph in Arrow McLaren’s No. 5 Chevrolet ahead of Fast Friday’s power increase.
His benchmark arrived early in the six-hour run, helped by traffic tow. It stands third overall this week, behind Conor Daly’s 228.080 mph and Alex Palou’s 228.026 from Wednesday.
O’Ward reported a balanced car while splitting race runs and qualifying simulations. He expects Friday’s extra boost, about 100 horsepower for Chevrolet and Honda, to shift handling demands.
The boost also applies for qualifying, making Thursday valuable preparation. With more power, drivers should hold throttle longer between Turns 2 and 3, exposing balance limitations in trimmed configurations.
Fast Friday increases engine boost by roughly 100 horsepower, transforming balance and speed profiles.
Meyer Shank Racing underlined its form. Helio Castroneves was second at 226.977 mph in the No. 06 Honda, with teammates Marcus Armstrong and Felix Rosenqvist third and fourth, respectively.
Alexander Rossi recovered strongly after an engine change, taking fifth at 226.364 mph in Ed Carpenter Racing’s No. 20 Chevrolet. He logged a session-high 68 laps, emphasizing reliability.
Tow-free pace offered a clearer qualifying proxy. Takuma Sato led the no-tow chart at 223.828 mph for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, with Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin next at 223.738 mph.
The field completed 1,469 laps without incident as priorities shifted to qualifying trim. Reduced mileage versus earlier days reflected focused programs and careful tyre and engine management.
All 33 cars logged 1,469 trouble-free laps on Thursday.
Expect setups to migrate toward lower downforce, with sensitivity to crosswind and track temperature. The added boost will punish instability at entry and mid-corner, rewarding teams with calm rear platforms.
Takuma Sato’s 223.828 mph no-tow lap set the week’s best solo benchmark.
The competitive picture should sharpen through Fast Friday and qualifying. The 110th Indianapolis 500 starts Sunday, May 24, at 10 a.m. ET, setting a clear target for long-run optimisation.
Visual Summary
Pato O’Ward
227.308 mph
(Arrow McLaren)
227.308 mph
(Arrow McLaren)
H. Castroneves 226.977 mph
M. Armstrong 226.841 mph
F. Rosenqvist 226.626 mph
A. Rossi 226.364 mph
Takuma Sato: Fastest solo (no draft): 223.828 mph
“Fast Friday” boost coming: +100 HP = Even higher speeds ahead!
Top speeds will climb as drivers unleash more power in tomorrow’s qualifying prep.
1,469 laps, zero incidents. Rossi ran most: 68.
Indy 500 — Sunday, May 24, 10 a.m. ET
Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.
