Felix Rosenqvist logs 233.372 mph

Felix Rosenqvist set the fastest lap of Fast Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after a rain delay shortened the final Indianapolis 500 practice before qualifying. The Meyer Shank Racing driver turned a top speed of 233.372 mph in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda, according to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The same session also gave teams their last extended chance to run with increased turbocharger boost before qualifying. Rosenqvist said the team started slowly and found speed late in the day. ### How fast was Rosenqvist, and what did the number actually represent? Felix Rosenqvist’s 233.372 mph was the quickest single lap in Friday’s practice, Indianapolis Motor Speedway said. The lap came during Fast Friday, the annual session in which cars run with the higher boost levels used for qualifying. Indianapolis Motor Speedway said Rosenqvist became the first driver that week to top 233 mph. The track also noted that his fastest lap came with an aerodynamic tow, but his no-tow speed of 232.324 mph ranked sixth, a sign his car also had pace in cleaner air. Meyer Shank Racing said Rosenqvist also ended the day sixth on the no-tow chart. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) In a team statement, Rosenqvist said, “Good end of the day,” after what he described as a slow start. ### Why were speeds higher on Friday than earlier in the week? Fast Friday is the last full practice session before Indianapolis 500 qualifying, and the format changes the cars. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) Indianapolis Motor Speedway said Honda and Chevrolet engines received about 100 additional horsepower through increased boost for the session, with the same setting available again during qualifying weekend. (meyershankracing.com) Friday’s schedule was also compressed by weather. Indianapolis Motor Speedway said morning rain delayed the start by two hours, cutting the planned six-hour session to five hours. The official event schedule had listed practice from noon to 7 p.m., subject to change. ### Who else showed speed before qualifying? (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) Alexander Rossi was second at 232.932 mph in the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing, Indianapolis Motor Speedway said. Scott McLaughlin was third at 232.674 mph for Team Penske, followed by Takuma Sato at 232.655 mph for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Marcus Ericsson at 232.622 mph for Andretti Global. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) The Indianapolis Motor Speedway report said Rosenqvist also posted the fastest four-lap simulated qualifying run of the session. That mattered because qualifying at Indianapolis is set by four-lap average, not a single peak lap. ### What were teams trying to learn in this session? (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) Fast Friday is built around qualifying preparation more than race running. Indianapolis Motor Speedway says the boosted session offers the clearest practice look at who may contend for the front row because teams can run the speeds they expect to carry into qualifying. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) Meyer Shank Racing said all three of its cars spent the day on qualifying simulations. Marcus Armstrong, Rosenqvist’s teammate, said in the team report that the car felt comfortable and that he was “feeling pretty confident for qualifying tomorrow.” ### How does qualifying weekend work from here? (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) Saturday, May 16, opened with a pre-qualifying practice from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., followed by qualifying from 11 a.m. to 5:50 p.m., Indianapolis Motor Speedway said. The track said positions 16 through 33 would be locked in on Saturday, while the 15 fastest cars would advance to Sunday’s final rounds to decide the pole winner and the first five rows. (meyershankracing.com) Scott Dixon drew the first spot in the qualifying line, Indianapolis Motor Speedway said after Friday’s practice. The live qualifying grid shows Rosenqvist qualified fifth with a four-lap average of 231.987 mph, while the 110th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 24. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com)