“Refresher” Bourdais sets fastest speed in Indy 500 testing

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The AJ Foyt Racing-Chevrolet driver, with the aid of a tow from two cars, lapped the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway 43 times, setting his best time of 40.1022sec, on Lap 33.

His best no-tow speed was only eighth in the 11-car Rookies & Refreshers session, but that was largely a result of there being not enough clear track, as the 80min session was interrupted by a yellow flag, hurrying everyone onto the track at golden hour.

“Pretty good refresher for the A.J. Foyt No. 14,” Bourdais said. “That ROKiT car was pretty good. It always feels a little different when you start at low speeds and the car’s never really settled, but we got through both phases and are ready to go tomorrow and start working properly. It’s all good.”

Sage Karam was an encouraging second fastest in the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing-Chevy, while third fastest was three-time Indy winner and four-time polesitter Helio Castroneves in the Meyer Shank Racing-Honda.

James Hinchcliffe, back with Andretti Autosport-Honda fulltime in 2021, was fourth, and the 2016 Indy polesitter will have been gratified to clock a 219.788mph lap without the aid of a tow. That put him top of the session for no-tows, and just 0.1mph off teammate Colton Herta’s top no-tow time from this morning.

Simona De Silvestro was never able to find a space to get a no-tow speed but the 2011 Rookie of the Year looked very comfortable as she reacclimated to IndyCars and the Brickyard after a six-year absence, ducking and diving through slower traffic, and setting seventh fastest time.

The Dale Coyne Racing with RWR-Hondas of IMS rookies Pietro Fittipaldi and Cody Ware completed Stage 2 of ROP, with Fittipaldi turning 62 laps, more than anyone else.

Practice resumes at 9am ET tomorrow to help compensate for the time lost to rain today.

P	No	Name	FTime	Gap	FL	Laps	FSpeed	Engine	Tire	Team
1	14	Sebastien Bourdais	40.1022	0.000	33	43	224.427	Chevy	P	AJ Foyt Enterprises
2	24	Sage Karam	40.5317	0.4295	37	43	222.048	Chevy	P	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
3	06	Helio Castroneves	40.7061	0.1744	47	55	221.097	Honda	P	Meyer Shank Racing
4	29	James Hinchcliffe	40.9140	0.2079	34	43	219.974	Honda	P	Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport
5	18	Ed Jones	40.9813	0.0673	34	41	219.612	Honda	P	Dale Coyne Racing
6	86	Juan Pablo Montoya	41.0754	0.0941	29	45	219.109	Chevy	P	Arrow McLaren SP
7	16	Simona De Silvestro	41.1095	0.0341	44	51	218.927	Chevy	P	Paretta Autosport
8	4	Dalton Kellett	41.3136	0.2041	43	49	217.846	Chevy	P	AJ Foyt Enterprises
9	51	Pietro Fittipaldi	41.3964	0.0828	56	62	217.410	Honda	P	Dale Coyne Racing w/Rick Ware Racing
10	59	Max Chilton	41.4817	0.0853	30	47	216.963	Chevy	P	Carlin
11	52	Cody Ware	41.8846	0.4029	49	49	214.876	Honda	P	Dale Coyne Racing w/Rick Ware Racing