The first day of practice for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was defined by weather interruptions, lightning delays, and a commanding performance by Will Power. Here’s everything you need to know about Tuesday, May 13’s opening session:
Weather Delays and Lightning Halt Running
Originally slated to begin at 12:00 p.m. ET, the session was pushed back by light rain that lingered over the 2.5-mile oval, delaying on-track activity until 2:35 p.m. ET. Teams finally got clearance to run, but with intermittent showers throughout the afternoon and lightning detected nearby, the day’s practice was cut short at 5:29 p.m. ET—about 30 minutes before the scheduled 6:00 p.m. end—adding an extra layer of challenge to teams’ preparation plans.
Penske’s Power Leads the Speed Charts
Despite the weather woes, Team Penske’s two-time series champion Will Power set the pace with a blistering lap of 227.026 mph in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet during the final half-hour of running. His teammate and two-time defending Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden wasn’t far behind, clocking a top speed of 226.971 mph to secure second on the charts. Power acknowledged the constructive nature of the day: “I think we’ve got a pretty good baseline. My teammates are pretty good. I learned a thing or two off them. It’s almost its own championship in itself.”
Ganassi Stalwarts Show Strength
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou—winner of four of the first five races this season—posted the third-fastest lap at 226.673 mph, demonstrating Honda’s competitiveness on the oval. Three-time series champion Scott Dixon also impressed, finishing fourth with a best lap of 225.059 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank entry. Palou and Dixon continue to target their first victory at Indy; both drivers will look to build on this momentum as practice resumes.
Rookie and “Non-Tow” Highlights
Beyond the tow-assisted speeds, rookie standout Kyle Kirkwood led the non-tow timesheet with a lap of 219.497 mph—an encouraging sign for the 2022 Indy Lights champion making just his second full season in INDYCAR. Other notable non-tow performers included Jacob Abel (218.884 mph) and Conor Daly (218.786 mph), who are both aiming to make strong impressions in their one-off entries.
Early Takeaways and What’s Next
- Baseline Setups: Teams now have an initial springboard for aero and engine tuning, despite the abbreviated running window.
- Weather Watch: Forecasts predict clearer skies on Wednesday, but the lingering potential for rain means teams must stay flexible.
- Storylines to Follow: Keep an eye on Kyle Larson’s quest to compete in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, and Josef Newgarden’s bid to become the first three-peat winner since 1975.
Practice resumes Wednesday, May 14 at 12:00 p.m. ET, with teams eager to capitalize on cleaner conditions to refine qualifying runs ahead of the pivotal May 18 Fast Friday session. Stay tuned for full coverage of all the action at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
