Andretti Tops Speed Chart on Fast Opening Day Practice

Marco Andretti led the Opening Day of practice for the 101st Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil with a top lap of 226.338 mph Monday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Andretti, from Nazareth, Pennsylvania, was the only driver to top the 226-mph mark on the 2.5-mile oval, receiving an aerodynamic tow in traffic in his No. 27 United Fiber & Data Honda.

2009 Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon was second at 225.296 in the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Two-time Indianapolis 500 pole sitter Ed Carpenter was third and the leading Chevrolet-powered driver, turning a top lap of 224.969 in the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet.

Honda-powered drivers seized eight of the top 10 spots on the speed chart on a sunny day with air temperatures in the mid-80s and track temperatures in the low 120s.

Two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso ended up 19th overall in his first day of practice, with a top lap of 223.025 mph in the No. 29 McLaren-Honda-Andretti Honda. Alonso, who completed the Rookie Orientation Program during his private test May 3 at IMS, was the fastest today of the four rookies in the field, all of whom turned laps.

Ed Jones completed the Rookie Orientation Program today in the No. 19 Boy Scouts of America Honda. Jack Harvey and Zach Veach each completed the first phase of the three-phase Rookie Orientation Program.

Harvey, from Bassingham, England, was involved in the only incident of the day. He made contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 with the right side of his No. 50 Michael Shank Racing w/Andretti Autosport Honda. Harvey was unhurt and cleared to drive.

Thirty-two drivers turned 1,501 combined laps Monday. The only driver named to a car on the entry list who didn’t practice today was 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Lazier, who is expected to make his 2017 event debut later this week.

Practice continues from noon-6 p.m. (ET) Tuesday. The 101st Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil is scheduled for noon (ET) Sunday, May 28.

Visit IMS.com to purchase tickets for the 101st Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on Sunday, May 28 and for more information on the complete Month or May schedule at IMS.

The race also will be televised live on ABC, with the pre-race show starting at 11 a.m. (ET). Advance Auto Parts IndyCar Radio will provide live coverage of the race to its affiliates and on Sirius 212, XM 209 and SXM 970.