INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The horsepower boost sent speeds skyrocketing over 233 mph early on Fast Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Andretti Autosport cars quickly jumped to the top of the board with Marco Andretti logging a lap of 233.491 miles per hour. It’s the fastest lap in a practice — which is considered unofficial — since Sebastien Bourdais went 233.116 mph in 2017.
The speed record at Indianapolis Motor Speedway belongs to Arie Luyendyk, who went 239.260 mph for an unofficial mark during practice on May 10, 1996. Two days later, he turned a lap at 237.498 mph in qualifying.
The Honda teams seemed to quickly adapt to the traditional speed bump given by IndyCar the day before Saturday qualifying for the Indy 500. Andretti teammates Ryan Hunter-Reay, James Hinchcliffe, Alexander Rossi and Zach Veach all topped 231 mph.
“It is crazy jumping in with that boost,” said Hinchcliffe. “Going 231 around Indianapolis? Man, this is fun.”
Andretti said his goal is to crack the the top nine in qualifying to ensure a starting spot in the first three rows for the Aug. 23 race. The starting order is determined by a four-lap average for each driver, and Andretti said his team will spend the rest of Friday focusing on finding consistent laps.
