Andretti jumped to the top of the speed chart by logging a lap at 233.491 miles per hour (375.77 kilometres per hour). It was the fastest lap in a practice — which is considered unofficial — since
He was one of nine
So it was just Andretti's bad luck when he drew the 28th spot for Saturday qualifying, ensuring he'll make his attempt during the hottest part of the day. He didn't seem concerned, though, because he was able to turn consistent laps during the later part of Friday practice.
“In the middle of the day, the heat of the day, we put together a really solid four laps,” Andretti said. “That is the heat of the day, right? That’s the positive to take, that if it is going to be hot, we already did that.”
The Chevrolet teams showed very little in terms of speed but insist the cars handle well in traffic and should be find for the
Daly was second on the day behind Andretti, the only Chevrolet to crack the top 10, and it wasn't until the very end of the session that
“Look, we're just not fast. Simply," 2018 winner Will Power said at one point. ”We're just not going to be able to challenge
Power later jumped to 11th on the speed chart, but more important, he drew the 10th spot for qualifying.
“If you drew in the first top 10, you’re in pretty good shape,” he said. “Especially for us who are just trying to crack into the top nine, an early draw, getting 10th, I was really happy about that.”
The fastest nine on Saturday advance to a shootout on Sunday that sets the first three rows for the
The four-car Penske operation was one of the last teams to pit lane when the track opened Friday and nearly two hours passed before their drivers tested the added horsepower.
It took just handful of laps for Team Penske to determine it had a problem. Reigning IndyCar champion
Pagenaud felt the high track surface temperature of 130 degrees and clear, sunny day did not suit the qualifying setup on the Penske cars.
“It is very difficult at these speeds to control the race car,” Pagenaud said.
Team Penske is owned by
Andretti was the only driver to top 233 mph, but teammates
“It is crazy jumping in with that boost,” said Hinchcliffe. “Going 231 around
The speed record at
Five-time IndyCar champion
Dixon heard the chatter that
“It seems a little strange so far,” said Dixon, noting the manufacturers typically follow plans and adjust their programs each day. “It's hard to tell what Chevy is up to.”
Even Andretti underplayed the importance of his fast lap. He recorded it as soon as the track opened then switched his focus to stringing together four consistent laps. Qualifying is not based on single lap speed, rather the four-lap average a driver turns.
“The first thing you need is speed and then you need to put the four laps together," Andretti said. "The luxury is we have the speed. We don’t need to find speed, we need to find four laps.”
Daly, meanwhile, logged a 232.337 as he prepares to qualify with engineer
Daly said the handling is difficult in part because the added weight of the cockpit-protecting aeroscreen is causing the tires to wear quickly during the four-lap stints.
“The drivers are earning their paychecks,” Daly said.
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