McLaughlin tops another rain-delayed Indy 500 practice
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio
Surviving another rain-delayed morning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway via a steady diet of Netflix, Scott McLaughlin began preparing for his fourth Indianapolis 500 by pacing Wednesday’s practice for the race’s 108th edition.
Scott McLaughlin – Indianapolis 500 Practice – Photo by Chris Owens
McLaughlin led three Team Penske cars in the top four on the speed chart after a second consecutive rain-interrupted day of practice for INDYCAR’s premier event. A 30-year-old native of New Zealand, McLaughlin posted a hot lap of 229.493 mph around the 2.5-mile IMS oval in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet during a session that started five hours, five minutes late due to persistent morning rain. Once underway, practice was interrupted three times by sprinkles before heavier rain washed-out the final 59 minutes.
All 34 drivers vying for a starting spot in the traditional field of 33 managed to turn 2,084 laps in rapid packs of traffic.
“The Pennzoil Chevy ‘Yellow Submarine’ straight out of the box is pretty good,” said McLaughlin, referencing the nickname of the No. 4 Chaparral/Cosworth made famous by three-time Indy 500 champion Johnny Rutherford of Fort Worth in 1980. “I was able to use that draft and get that speed. Obviously, the car’s got good pace right now. We ran through a lot of items, as much as we can, and I think we’ve gotten in a really good spot.”
McLaughlin’s lap was the fastest from two limited days of practice. Fellow-New Zealander and six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon, winner of the 2008 Indy 500, led Tuesday’s Opening Day session at 229.107 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. That session ended after just 23 minutes due to heavy rain.
(Photo by Joe Skibinski | IMS Photo)
The weather delays have tested the patience of drivers eager to sort out their cars before qualifying this weekend for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday, May 26.
“So boring. There’s only so much Netflix you can watch,” McLaughlin joked. “I was over it. I watched about three movies but then I was ready to go once we got going. ‘Survivor.’ I actually watched an episode of ‘Survivor.’ Caught up with it.”
McLaughlin’s up-and-down 2024 season has seen his result from the opening race on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., disqualified in the Penske push-to-pass scandal that also erased teammate Josef Newgarden’s victory. McLaughlin rebounded and answered his critics by winning from pole position on Barber Motorsports Park’s challenging natural-terrain road-course in Birmingham, Ala.
Newgarden, a two-time series champion, checked-off a major box on his INDYCAR resume by winning his first Indy 500 last May. Newgarden presented team-owner Roger Penske the organization’s record-extending 19th Indy 500 win. McLaughlin is stoked to join Newgarden and teammate Will Power, the 2018 Indy 500 champ, on the BorgWarner Trophy.
Penske, who also owns the series and IMS, added Scotty Mac to his INDYCAR team fulltime in 2021 after watching him win three championships in the rowdy Australian V-8 Supercars series for DJR Team Penske.
“Yeah, I feel really good,” McLaughlin said. “I understand the race a lot more for sure. I think you just build a bit of experience every year, and it’s just invaluable, that experience. Someone like ‘Taku’ (two-time Indy 500 champion Takuma Sato of Japan) who’s done 15, you want to have that experience. But you just try and soak everything up like a sponge and understand what you want from the car. I feel like I’ve got a pretty firm understanding of what I want from the car, especially on an oval.
“It’s just a matter of putting the pieces of the puzzle together, and I think I’m in that frame of mind and that experience level where I can really sort of take it to the next level. Hopefully we can do that this year. We’ll work on qualifying and whatnot, but at the same time I think we’re in a lot better shape. For me mentally, I’m a bit more focused on the right things, not being blase on the little details because it takes every little detail to be good here. I think we made the most of our time.”
Native Australian Power, a two-time series champion, placed second Wednesday at 228.767 mph in the No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet.
Colton Herta led the rival OEM Honda contingent in third at 227.858 mph in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda of Andretti Global, followed by Newgarden in fourth at 227.675 mph in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet. Alexander Rossi, the 2016 Indy 500 champ, completed the top-five at 227.484 mph in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
Meanwhile, four-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves opened his “Drive for 5” at IMS with a new look and colors on the No. 06 Cleveland-Cliffs Honda fielded by Meyer Shank Racing with Curb- Agajanian. Castroneves was 10th on the speed sheet at 226.213 mph after completing 64 total laps.
“We were able to avoid a little bit of the weather,” said Castroneves, a native of Brazil. “The car is brand new and it seems to be going in the right direction, which is great. This whole team is new but you would never know that. Everyone is really gelling and working well together. I’m looking forward to hopefully avoiding the rain so that we can continue working and get ready for ‘Fast Friday.’^”
Versatile Kyle Larson, Rossi’s Arrow McLaren teammate, was the fastest of seven rookies while continuing his preparations to attempt “The Double” of competing in the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26. Larson, the 2021 Cup champion, was 15th at 225.245 mph in the No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
“It’s a little bit frustrating,” Larson said of the weather delays. “But it is what it is. There’s plenty of track time. I’m trying to remember that. I’m glad to have gotten out there and got running. I’m still trying to figure a lot out and work through the car balance, timing of runs and all that. Just trying to play around with things and make runs and pass people.”
Thursday’s practice has been extended to accommodate the week’s shortened track time. PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
The 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 3LZ coupe _ quickest production Corvette in history _ will lead the field to the green flag for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 26.
Designed for year-round performance, the Corvette E-Ray features electrified All-Wheel Drive (eAWD) capability.
Photo courtesy of the NTT IndyCar Series
“We are proud to announce the E-Ray, which is the first electrified and quickest production Corvette ever, will be pacing the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500,” said Scott Bell, global Chevrolet vice president. “Chevrolet and INDYCAR share the same spirit of competition and performance-oriented, cutting-edge technology, making E-Ray the perfect fit to pace this year’s race.”
The Corvette E-Ray is the only sports car pairing two separate propulsion systems to provide naturally aspirated V-8 power with electrified responsiveness powered by eAWD, making it “one like none.” A 6.2L V-8 is complemented by the electric motor that channels an additional 160 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque through the front wheels for 655 combined horsepower.
The addition of the electric drive unit helps the E-Ray achieve incredible acceleration _ from zero to 60 mph in 2.5-seconds and covering the quarter-mile in 10.5-seconds. Stealth Mode enables the Corvette E-Ray to drive on electric power for up to four miles at speeds up to 45 mph.
The Corvette E-Ray features a host of functional design elements, adding wider fenders, quarter panels and fascias. The result is a sleek, sculpted presence with a number of aerodynamic and performance benefits. Standard ground effects and spoiler contribute further to its aerodynamic prowess, while matching body-color accents provide a refined look.
Arctic white exterior paint and two-tone jet black and natural interior accents pair with the Indianapolis 500 logos on the Pace Car edition. Carbon fiber wheels, with exclusive standard all-season tires, complete the car’s race-ready look.
“As we anticipate another record-breaking Indianapolis 500, it’s only fitting that the quickest production Corvette will pace the field,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “The performance enhancements tested on the track make their way to the street, and the Corvette E-Ray is a prime example of that Chevrolet innovation.”
Corvette, the longest-running nameplate in automotive industry history, has paced “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” more times than any car. The 2024 race marks the 35th time for Chevrolet to pace the Indy 500 dating to 1948 and the 21st time overall, since 1978, for America’s favorite sports car.
