IndyCar – Rookies pass their license at Indy 500

Like every year in Indianapolis, rookies who have never started the legendary event must carry out tests on the Indiana oval in order to validate three phases where an average speed must be reached over several laps: 10 laps between 200 and 205mph (321,8 and 329,8km/h), 15 laps between 205 and 210mph (329,8 and 337,9km/h) and 15 laps above 210mph (338km/h).

These tests notably allowed Kurt Busch (Andretti Autosport) to get his ticket for the Indianapolis 500 on May 25 where he will also have to compete in the Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte. The driver of the Stewart-Haas Racing in Nascar achieved the best time of the two ROP sessions with a lap completed in 40”4878, ahead of Mikhail Aleshin (Schmidt Peterson Motorsport) by six tenths. “It was hard for me to slow down (in Phase 1) because I had to slow down and I don't like that. This will be my first race on an oval and you have no idea how incredible it is to do it at the Indy 500.", commented the teammate of simon pagenaud.

By signing the fourth time of the two sessions completed, Jack Hawsworth (BHA) is also good for the service, as is Carlos Huertas (Dale Coyne Racing) who finished the day ahead of Jacques Villeneuve (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports), the winner of the 1995 edition. The Colombian also discovered oval racing and decided to complete a complete program after the Indiaapolis 500 Miles. “It’s strange because everything is so different. I think my speed is good. I just worked on my trajectories. I think I'm doing well even though everything is new. »

If Martin Plowman (AJ Foyt Entreprises) also passed the three Phases of the ROP, Sage Karam (Dreyer & Reinbold Racing) will have to wait until the next tests scheduled for May 11 in order to complete his last Phase after a mechanical problem put a premature end to his session.

Check out photos from IndyCar testing in Indianapolis.