By: Spencer Neff
May 17, 2025

Practice Results Combined Practice Results Qualifying Format

Ahead of an unpredictable and nerve-wracking weekend, Felix Rosenqvist led the split group practice ahead of Day 1 qualifying for the 109th Indianapolis 500. The Meyer Shank Racing driver posted a best lap of 234.176 mph (38.5814 seconds) on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Rosenqvist’s best start at the “500” was third in 2023, he finished a career-best fourth a year earlier.

Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing, who shares a technical alliance with MSR was second, .1109 of a second back of Roseqnvist. Palou also had the best no-tow lap of the morning (233.437 mph). The current NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader is looking for his second pole in the race (2023) and his first win (runenr-up in 2021).

Josef Newgarden of Team Penske was the fastest Chevrolet in third as he goes for a first-ever three-peat in the race. Newgarden’s best start here was second in 2016 with Ed Carpenter Racing.

Hondas rounded out the Top Five with Andretti Global’s Colton Herta and Palou’s teammate Scott Dixon. Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel and Dale Coyne Racing’s Jacob Abel were the only rookies of the four in the field to make hit on track in the morning. Siegel was best among the duo in 17th.

With conditions expected to be among the most treacherous in recent memory for qualifying, 22 of 34 drivers vying for a spot in the 33-car field made a lap in the session, the most sincere 2022. 19 drivers ran their best lap of the month, including Kyffin Simpson and Kyle Larson of Chip Ganassi Racing and Arrow McLaren. The sophomore drivers were involved in separate crashes during “Fast Friday” practice.

Nearly halfway through the opening session, Marcus Armstrong made heavy contact with the outside wall in Turn 1 after getting loose. Armstrong’s destroyed Meyer Shank Racing entry slid to a stop near the entry of Turn 2.

Although he was assisted from his car and taken to the infield care center on a gurney, Armstrong likely will not be able to make a qualifying run until later in the day if at all before tomorrow.

Per an interview with Fox Sports’ Georgia Henneberry, Armstrong was “awake, alert, doing well”. INDYCAR Medical Director Dr. Julia Vainer added they were still evaluating him at the infield care center.

Armstrong was later released from the care center but has not been cleared to drive.

Following a caution of just under 22 minutes, the first group was allowed to complete the final eight minutes and 25 seconds.

Group 2 was given 20 minutes in the wake of Armstrong’s contact.

Qualifying Draw

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

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

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 ByJoe Skibinski/INDYCAR