Indy 500 test: Rookie, Refresher programs almost complete before rain

Those in the Rookie Orientation Program are obliged to run Phase 1 – 10 laps at 205-210mph, Phase 2 – 15 laps at 210-215mph and Phase 3 – 15 laps at 215-plus mph.

Those needing to take the Refresher course are drivers who have not raced an IndyCar on a speedway since the previous Indianapolis 500. They just have to run Phases 2 and 3.

Initially, 2013 winner Tony Kanaan preparing for his 22^nd 500, in the fourth Chevrolet-powered Arrow McLaren, broke with etiquette and ran a 218.688mph lap. He was swiftly demoted by 2020 pole-winner and 2006 runner-up Marco Andretti producing a 221.419mph in his Honda-powered Andretti Autosport car! The pair then did what was expected of them.

Katherine Legge caused a yellow flag when her car suddenly slowed and needed a tow from the slowdown lane into the pits, but she was swiftly back in action.

Once free to do so, Andretti then ran a 221.569mph lap on his 43^rd of 50 laps, while former teammate and 2014 Indy winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, now in a Dreyer & Reinbold Racing entry, was just a hair behind with 221.522.

His teammate in the DRR with Cusick Motorsports machine, Stefan Wilson, was third.

Agustin Canapino is the only rookie not to have finished his program. The unfortunate Argentine touring car legend was just one lap shy of completing Phase 3 when the yellows came out at the 1h33m mark of the two-hour session. Nonetheless, the Juncos Hollinger Racing driver has impressed – as he has all season – with his composure in this utterly alien setting.

All eight drivers present will be allowed to join the race veterans in the 2.00pm-6.30pm session (providing Canapino completes his run of laps at 215+ mph).

The only driver not present, who will have to run his rookie test when the teams return for practice in May, was RC Enerson. He will be piloting an Abel Motorsport entry as the Indy NXT team dips a toe in the water with the ‘big cars’.

That car’s presence will ensure a Bump Day on qualifying weekend, as it becomes the 34^th entrant for a race which traditionally starts with 11 rows of three.

P	Name	FTime	Diff	FL	Laps	FSpeed	Engine	Team
1	Marco Andretti	40.6194	40.6194	43	50	221.569	Honda	Andretti Herta Autosport w/ Marco & Curb
2	Ryan Hunter-Reay	40.6280	0.0086	31	44	221.522	Chevy	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
3	Stefan Wilson	40.6355	0.0161	44	48	221.481	Chevy	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
4	Marco Andretti	40.6469	0.0275	3	4	221.419	Honda	Andretti Herta Autosport w/ Marco & Curb
5	Agustin Canapino	41.0149	0.3955	46	54	219.432	Chevy	Juncos Holling Racing
6	Tony Kanaan	41.1545	0.5351	7	46	218.688	Chevy	Arrow McLaren
7	Benjamin Pedersen	41.1561	0.5367	52	56	218.680	Chevy	AJ Foyt Enterprises
8	Katherine Legge	41.2081	0.5887	58	59	218.404	Honda	Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
9	Sting Ray Robb	41.4378	0.8184	39	49	217.193	Honda	Dale Coyne Racing w/RWR