Will Power Leads Rain-Delayed Indianapolis 500 Practice

The opening day of practice for the 109th Indianapolis 500 was significantly impacted by weather, with rain delaying the start until mid-afternoon and a lightning strike cutting the session short. Despite the abbreviated track time, Team Penske dominated the speed charts, with Will Power posting the fastest lap at 227.026 mph, followed closely by teammate Josef Newgarden at 226.971 mph. Alex Palou, the reigning IndyCar Series champion and current points leader, was third fastest for Chip Ganassi Racing, with Scott Dixon and Scott McLaughlin rounding out the top five. Non-tow speed leader was rookie Kyle Kirkwood, who registered 219.497 mph, though such speeds are considered less meaningful at this stage of practice. The PREMA Racing team struggled to get their cars ready, resulting in the fewest laps turned by their drivers Robert Shwartzman and Callum Ilott. Other notable performances included Marcus Ericsson finishing ninth fastest and Kyle Larson making his Indy 500 debut as he prepares for the rare 'Double,' attempting to compete in both the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Coke 600 on the same day.