“Refresher” Bourdais sets fastest speed in Indy 500 testing
Four-time Champ Car title winner Sebastien Bourdais had to complete the Rookie and Refresher practice session at Indy, but made the most of it to set a 224.427mph lap.
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 |

Daly leads first IMS test session, Herta tops no-tow speeds
Daly heads Indy test Friday morning, all rookies cleared

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