The annual Indianapolis 500 Open Test returned to the iconic 2.5‑mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on April 23–24, 2025, offering teams their first real taste of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” under new hybrid and turbo boost regulations. After an initial internet outage delayed Wednesday’s sessions, 34 drivers—including rookies and veterans completing refresher tests—logged more than 5,800 laps over two days as they fine‑tuned setups ahead of May’s Month of May races.
Day 1 Highlights (Wednesday, April 23)
Scott Dixon topped the speed charts in the first day’s final hour, clocking a late flyer of 225.182 mph in his No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to edge defending two‑time champ Josef Newgarden and Takuma Sato. Marcus Armstrong and Colton Herta rounded out the top five, underscoring Honda’s strength as nine of the fastest ten laps came on Honda power.
Technical gremlins appeared early: Jack Harvey and Santino Ferrucci each brought out brief cautions with mechanical stoppages, while Graham Rahal brushed the Turn 3 SAFER Barrier with 13 minutes remaining, damaging his suspension but avoiding a more serious incident. Rookie orientation saw Louis Foster, Jacob Abel and Robert Shwartzman clear their rookie tests, and veterans such as Kyle Larson, Marco Andretti and Callum Ilott complete refresher laps. By day’s end, the field had covered 2,805 laps as teams gathered crucial data on hybrid deployment and aero balance.
Day 2 Highlights (Thursday, April 24)
Morning “High Boost” Session: With turbo boost turned up to Fast Friday and qualifying levels, Scott McLaughlin blistered the oval at 232.686 mph in his No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet—the fastest lap of the entire test. Will Power and Felix Rosenqvist also broke the 232 mph barrier, while Takuma Sato and Kyle Larson each suffered heavy Turn 1 crashes; both drivers were uninjured.
Afternoon “Race Trim” Session: Dropping boost to race‑spec levels, Álex Palou topped the charts at 223.993 mph in his No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, followed closely by Rosenqvist and Kyle Kirkwood. The only on‑track issues were fuel‑starvation offs by Rinus VeeKay and Jacob Abel, but no cautions were needed. Teams also used the final minutes to practice hot pit stops. Combined, the two days of testing covered 5,804 laps—approximately 14,510 miles.
Technical Takeaways
Wednesday’s session validated the potency of Honda’s package under race‑trim conditions, while Chevrolet’s rebound on Thursday showcased the impact of elevated boost on qualifying runs. Drivers noted that the new hybrid integration adds an extra layer of strategy, demanding precise muscle‑memory runs under varying boost levels and careful management of tire wear on IMS’s famously abrasive surface.
What’s Next
With the open test in the books, attention now turns to the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park on May 4, followed by the Sonsio Grand Prix on the IMS road course (May 10) and the 109th Indianapolis 500 on May 25. Teams will analyze this week’s data to refine aero setups, hybrid deployment strategies and pit‑stop routines as the intensity of Month of May racing ramps up.
