By: Spencer Neff
May 16, 2025

Friday Practice Results Combined Practice Results

Team Penske’ Scott McLaughlin took another step toward winning his second consecutive pole at the Indianapolis 500. During the six-hour “Fast Friday” practice, he turned a best lap of 233.954 mph (38.4691 seconds).

Just .2304 of a second off McLaughlin was fellow New Zealander Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing. Dixon posted the best non-tow lap of the day (232.5621 mph) and the fastest four-lap average speed (232.386 mph).

He is the last driver to win consecutive pole positions at this race (2021-2022). If he were to start on pole, he would tie Rick Mears (1979, 82, 86, 88-89, 91) for most all-time with six.

Dixon started on the pole for his 2008 victory and started there in 2015 and 2017 as well. He also holds the all-time record for most laps led in this race (665).

Following Dixon was his teammate and NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader Alex Palou. Andretti Global made it four Hondas in the Top Five after McLaughlin’s Chevrolet with Kyle Kirkwopod and Colton Herta in fourth and fifth.

In 13th, rookie Robert Shwartzman was the fastest among the quartet of drivers looking to make their “500” debut. Shwartzman and teammate Callum Ilott will look to qualify PREMA Racing for their first sentry into the Indianapolis 500 this weekend.

Sun and wind began to wreak havoc on the drivers vying for a spot in the 33-car field.

Less than an hour into practice, Kyffin Simpson got loose in Turn 4 and made heavy impact with the outside wall. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver got airborne before sliding to a stop on pit lane. He would be checked and released from the infield care center soon after.

Simpson did not make it out for any more practice time during the day. He will move to a backup car, with everything but the engine swapped out per Fox Sports’ Kevin Lee.

After qualifying 18th in his debut last year, Simpson looks to make his second Indianapolis 500 on May 25th.

It would not be the only incident of the day.

With about 90 minutes remaining in practice, Kyle Larson of Arrow McLaren spun in Turn 3, making contact at the outside will at the front end of his Arrow McLaren machine.

The 2024 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year would climb from his car and be released from the care center moments later. Unlike Simpson, he was able to return to the track for more running time. Neither Simpson nor Larson were to post a lap at full-speed in preparation for qualifying.

Qualifying Draw

The order for tomorrow’s first day of qualifications was determined by random draw, per tradition. Here is the order for tomorrow:

1. Marcus Ericsson

2. Pato O’Ward

3. Kyffin Simpson

4. Robert Shwartzman

5. Alexander Rossi

6. Ryan Hunter-Reay

7. Jack Harvey

8. Christian Lundgaard

9. Marcus Armstrong

10. Graham Rahal

11. Nolan Siegel

12. Conor Daly

13. Felix Rosenqvist

14. Scott Dixon

15. Colton Herta

16. David Malukas

17. Santino Ferrucci

18. Will Power

19. Kyle Larson

20. Helio Castroneves

21. Takuma Sato

22: Ed Carpenter

23. Marco Andretti

24. Jacob Abel

25. Alex Palou

26. Louis Foster

27. Scott McLaughlin

28. Sting Ray Robb

29. Christian Rasmussen

30. Kyle Kirkwood

31. Devlin DeFrancesco

32. Callum Ilott

33. Josef Newgarden

34. Rinus VeeKay

Up Next

Qualifying Day begins with an hour of practice split between 17 cars apiece (30 minutes each-draws 1-17 followed by 18-34 will be the order) at 8:30-9:30 p.m. ET. Four-lap qualification runs will be held from 11 a.m.-5:50 p.m. Each of the 34 entrants looking to qualify will be guaranteed once attempt.

Drivers in positions 10-30 will be locked in for next Sunday’s race. On Sunday, the Top 12 will qualify again, with 7-12 being locked in. Drivers in 31st-34th will also prequalify, with the slowest driver getting “bumped” from the field. On Sunday evening, the Fast Six from the earlier session will run for the pole,

IndyCar1909 will be on-site and credentialed for all on-track activities. Stick with IndyCar1909 and our social media for the latest on the Indianapolis 500 and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. 

Header Image By Paul Hurley/INDYCAR