Samwise IndyCar Newsletter
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Conor Daly Tops Indy 500 Open Test Day 1 with 225 mph Lap
Conor Daly posted the fastest lap on the opening day of the 2026 Indianapolis 500 Open Test, reaching 225.394 mph in the No. 23 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 12-time “500” starter edged four-time winner Helio Castroneves, second at 225.200 mph for Meyer Shank Racing. Takuma Sato was third at 224.800 mph, with six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon fourth at 224.564 mph for Chip Ganassi Racing. All 33 Indy 500 entrants participated in the two-day test, which serves as the primary oval preparation for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 24.
Sources: IndyCar.com
Newgarden Sets Pace in Veterans-Only Morning Session at IMS
Two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden set the fastest lap in the exclusive veteran morning session on the first day of the IMS Open Test, clocking 223.415 mph for Team Penske. Newgarden benefited from a tow, with all three of Team Penske’s regular-season drivers on track simultaneously during the two-hour window open only to experienced “500” starters. Two-time winner Takuma Sato of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing finished second, with Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward third. The session gave established oval runners dedicated track time before the Rookie Orientation Program and the full-field afternoon session, which brought all 33 Indy 500 entrants together for the first time this test weekend.
Sources: RACER
All Four Indy 500 First-Timers Clear Rookie Orientation at IMS
All four drivers required to complete the Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program cleared their limitations during Tuesday’s first day of the 2026 Indy 500 Open Test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Jacob Abel, Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger, and Mick Schumacher each completed the three-stage program, which requires 10 laps between 205 and 210 mph, 15 laps between 215 and 220 mph, and a final 15 laps above 215 mph. Five veterans — including Ed Carpenter, Helio Castroneves, Jack Harvey, and Ryan Hunter-Reay — also completed abbreviated refresher courses. The successful clearances allow all four rookies to run without restriction for the remainder of the two-day test.
Sources: Motorsport Week
Grosjean Strikes Bird at 230 mph During Indy 500 Open Test
Romain Grosjean struck a bird at approximately 230 mph while navigating Turn 3 of Indianapolis Motor Speedway during Tuesday’s opening day of Indy 500 testing. The impact left blood on his race suit and debris on the car’s roll bars. “I still have blood on my race suit, there were pieces of the bird on my rollbar — I couldn’t see where I was going anymore,” Grosjean said. The Dale Coyne Racing driver nevertheless recovered to post the 11th-fastest time at 219.362 mph in the morning session and climbed to sixth at 224.307 mph in the afternoon, with the No. 18 Honda emerging intact.
Sources: FOX Sports
Jack Harvey Leads Combined Rookie and Refresher Session at Open Test
Jack Harvey posted the fastest time in the combined rookie and refresher session during Tuesday’s opening day of the 2026 Indy 500 Open Test, clocking 221.154 mph in the No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Harvey was one of four veterans required to complete an abbreviated refresher course, alongside Ed Carpenter, Helio Castroneves, and Ryan Hunter-Reay. All four first-time Indy 500 starters — Jacob Abel, Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger, and Mick Schumacher — also ran in the session to satisfy their rookie orientation requirements. The structured program ensures drivers unfamiliar with the 2.5-mile oval meet minimum speed thresholds before joining the unrestricted full field.
Sources: RACER
Arrow McLaren Fields All Four Primary Indy 500 Cars at Open Test
Arrow McLaren entered all four of its Indianapolis 500 cars for Tuesday’s Indy 500 Open Test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, fielding the full-season cars of Pato O’Ward, Christian Lundgaard, and Nolan Siegel alongside Ryan Hunter-Reay’s fourth Chevrolet entry. Team officials described running all primary race chassis — rather than backup test cars — as a confidence statement ahead of the 110th Running on May 24. Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2012 series champion, joins Arrow McLaren for the oval race only, with his entry prepared in partnership with Legacy Motor Club. The approach gives all four cars direct oval time before qualifying in May.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Will Power Describes Calmer Feel at Andretti Ahead of First Indy 500 Together
Will Power described a different atmosphere at Andretti Global compared to his 17 consecutive “500” starts with Team Penske, saying the new team feels “more calm.” Tuesday marked Power’s first time in non-Penske equipment at Indianapolis Motor Speedway since his 2008 debut with KV Racing Technology. He ran near the front for much of the morning session at 223.151 mph in the No. 26 Andretti Global Honda, finishing 10th overall as late runs reshuffled the top nine. Andretti Global fielded just three cars at Indianapolis this year for the first time since 2003, having shed its technical alliances for a leaner operation heading into May.
Sources: IndyCar.com
Drivers’ Championship
1. Alex Palou — 205 pts
2. Kyle Kirkwood — 188 pts
3. David Malukas — 142 pts
4. Pato O’Ward — 136 pts
5. Christian Lundgaard — 131 pts
6. Josef Newgarden — 130 pts
7. Scott McLaughlin — 127 pts
8. Scott Dixon — 120 pts
9. Felix Rosenqvist — 109 pts
10. Graham Rahal — 106 pts
11. Alexander Rossi — 105 pts
12. Marcus Ericsson — 104 pts
13. Marcus Armstrong — 104 pts
14. Will Power — 89 pts
15. Rinus VeeKay — 79 pts
16. Dennis Hauger — 76 pts
17. Kyffin Simpson — 75 pts
18. Santino Ferrucci — 74 pts
19. Louis Foster — 60 pts
20. Romain Grosjean — 60 pts
21. Christian Rasmussen — 59 pts
22. Caio Collet — 59 pts
23. Nolan Siegel — 56 pts
24. Mick Schumacher — 44 pts
25. Sting Ray Robb — 42 pts
Teams’ Championship
1. Chip Ganassi Racing — 346 pts
2. Team Penske — 312 pts
3. Andretti Global — 302 pts
4. Arrow McLaren — 275 pts
5. Meyer Shank Racing — 213 pts
6. Rahal Letterman Lanigan — 172 pts
7. ECR — 164 pts
8. Dale Coyne Racing — 136 pts
9. A.J. Foyt Enterprises — 133 pts
10. Juncos Hollinger Racing — 121 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency