https://shop.fervogear.com/cart
Paddock Buzz: Intense Practice Brings Progress and Pain
Highlights
- Josef Newgarden led practice at 226.198 mph on Monday.
- Practice saw 33 drivers complete 1,050 laps in 35 minutes.
- Major crash involved Alexander Rossi, Pato O’Ward, and Grosjean.
- Jack Harvey moved to 33rd after failing post-qualifying inspection.
- Alex Palou leads series, winning NTT P1 Award and points bonus.
- Rookie Dennis Hauger was third fastest, missing team photo.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES teams log a frantic Monday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, packing 1,050 laps into roughly 35 green-flag minutes before the 110th Indianapolis 500.
With qualifying settled, programmes pivot to race trim, traffic behavior, and tyre life. Josef Newgarden leads the charts at 226.198 mph in Team Penske’s No. 2 Chevrolet.
Newgarden, the 2023 and 2024 winner, targets a third straight victory. Recent trends support him, with Monday pace-setters often converting, most recently Alex Palou in 2025.
Arrow McLaren’s Ryan Hunter-Reay reports electrical and gearbox issues through the week. The car improves across 1 hour 18 minutes of running, shy of the scheduled two hours.
Teams prioritise traffic balance and grip windows. Monday’s time provides high-quality race-day correlation, despite interruptions and reduced overall green-flag mileage.
Newgarden tops practice at 226.198 mph, reinforcing Penske’s race-trim baseline and his bid for a third straight Indianapolis 500 victory.
The largest incident begins with Alexander Rossi spinning at Turn 2 and striking the SAFER Barrier. Pato O’Ward loses control while avoiding and impacts Rossi’s car.
Romain Grosjean also spins and crashes in the aftermath. All three are checked and released; Rossi visits a local hospital for evaluation, remaining alert and in good spirits.
A multi-car crash involving Rossi, O’Ward, and Grosjean triggers 43 minutes and 32 seconds of caution, heavily compressing race-trim learning.
Qualifying form remains intact on paper: Rossi starts second, O’Ward sixth, and Grosjean 24th. The incidents, however, add rebuild pressure and reduce clean traffic running.
Regulatory scrutiny shapes the back of the grid. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing loses Jack Harvey’s qualifying time after a post-qualifying technical infraction.
Harvey’s penalty sends him to 33rd. Dennis Reinbold apologises, stressing no intent to gain performance and reaffirming the team’s commitment to integrity.
The team accepts the sanction without appeal. Conor Daly sustains minor debris damage in the same melee but continues a full pit stop practice programme.
Up front in the points, Alex Palou banks the NTT P1 Award bonus and retains the series lead. Kyle Kirkwood, starting 25th, estimates his deficit at 39 points.
Kirkwood downplays championship arithmetic for now, prioritising an Indy 500 victory. Palou pursues a fourth consecutive title and fifth in six seasons on sustained consistency.
Rookie Dennis Hauger impresses with third-fastest pace after missing the traditional group photo. His traffic performance signals composure and a potentially efficient race package.
Takuma Sato, twice a winner here, is second fastest and starts 12th. Teams leave with mixed confidence, but clearer setup direction ahead of Sunday’s race.
Visual Summary
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.
