Rosenqvist tops Indy Fast Friday speed

Felix Rosenqvist put Meyer Shank Racing on top of the Indianapolis 500 Fast Friday charts on May 15, delivering the quickest lap of the final practice before qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Swedish driver turned 233.372 mph in the No. 60 Honda, becoming the first driver of the week to break 233 mph, according to IndyCar. (indycar.com) Scott McLaughlin also emerged as one of the day’s pace references, recording the fastest no-tow lap of the week at 232.674 mph. The session came as teams received added turbocharger boost for the annual Fast Friday tune-up ahead of time trials. (indycar.com) ### Why did Fast Friday matter more than the earlier practice days? Fast Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the last practice session before qualifying in which teams run added turbocharger boost, the speed-setting configuration used for time trials. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway schedule says the session offers the best look at who might contend for the front row because cars reach the speeds they will run over qualifying weekend. May 15 was also the first day of the week when lap times moved decisively into the 230-mph range. (indycar.com) IndyCar said Rosenqvist not only led the single-lap chart but also produced the fastest four-lap simulated qualifying average, a key marker because Indianapolis 500 qualifying positions are set by four-lap runs, not one isolated lap. ### What exactly did Rosenqvist put on the board? Rosenqvist’s headline number was 233.372 mph, set late in the session in favorable conditions, according to IndyCar and local reports. IndyCar said the lap came in the No. 60 Honda fielded by Meyer Shank Racing, and the same report said he also led the four-lap simulated qualifying average at 232.828 mph. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) The 2026 season is Rosenqvist’s eighth in IndyCar and his third with Meyer Shank Racing, according to his IndyCar driver profile. IndyCar also noted before the month began that Rosenqvist had been one of the series’ most consistent performers on the Indianapolis oval in recent years, with top-10 level finishes across the previous four runnings. (indycar.com) ### Where did McLaughlin fit into the picture? McLaughlin did not finish first on the overall chart, but his numbers drew attention because they came without the aerodynamic help of a tow. WTHR reported that the Team Penske driver posted a 232.674-mph no-tow lap, the quickest such effort of the week, and added a four-lap average of 232.572 mph. (indycar.com) Team Penske has recent form in this session. IndyCar’s 2025 Fast Friday report said McLaughlin led that day at 233.954 mph last year, underlining why his May 15 pace was closely watched even without the top overall lap. (indycar.com) ### Who else looked quick heading into qualifying? Alexander Rossi was second on the overall Fast Friday chart behind Rosenqvist, according to reports carried by IndyCar-aligned outlets and other race coverage. Takuma Sato and Marcus Ericsson also were among the top five on outright speed, with the field compressed as teams shifted from traffic-running setups to qualifying simulations. (wthr.com) Curt Cavin wrote on IndyCar.com that there was “no clear favorite” entering qualifying, with spots 16 through 33 set to be locked in Saturday and the top 15 advancing to the later rounds Sunday. (indycar.com) That assessment reflected how several teams showed competitive pace in different conditions rather than one entry controlling the week. ### What comes next at Indianapolis? PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying continues on May 17 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after Saturday’s opening round. IndyCar’s event schedule says split-group practice begins at 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday, followed by qualifying for all cars at noon, the Top 12 session at 4 p.m. and the Firestone Fast Six at 6 p.m. (kickinthetires.net) The 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for May 24 in Indianapolis. IndyCar’s 2026 schedule lists the race start coverage at 10 a.m. ET, with the field to be set by the qualifying sessions that followed Rosenqvist’s Fast Friday lead. (indycar.com 1) (indycar.com 2) (indycar.com 3)