The speed at the Brickyard climbed on Tuesday as Conor Daly topped the charts at 228mph during the second day of practice for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500. On a day defined by biting chill and unpredictable gusts, the native Hoosier found the perfect pocket of air, utilizing a massive tow to propel the #23 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet to a session-best mark of 228.080 mph.
While the headline speed belongs to Daly, the session served as a critical barometer for the field as they balance raw pace with the stability required for the most famous race in the world. The gap between the leaders was razor-thin, with the defending race winner and three-time IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou trailing by a mere 0.0093 seconds. Palou, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, clocked in at 228.027 mph, making him the only other driver to breach the 228 mph threshold on Tuesday.
For Daly, the top spot is more than just a number on a timesheet; it is a statement of intent for a driver deeply connected to the soil of Indiana. In the high-stakes environment of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the “tow”—the aerodynamic pull created by a lead car—is the great equalizer, often masking a car’s true single-lap pace but revealing the ceiling of what the machinery can achieve when pushed to the limit.
The Battle for the Top Five
Beyond the 228 mph duo, the top of the leaderboard saw a mix of established powerhouses and late-session surges. David Malukas kept the #12 Team Penske Chevrolet firmly in the hunt, securing third place with a run of 227.139 mph, sitting 0.1636 seconds behind Daly’s peak.
The session’s most dramatic climb came from Graham Rahal. After spending a significant portion of the afternoon languishing near the bottom of the speed charts, the #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda found a sudden burst of speed in the final 30 minutes. Rahal vaulted into fourth place with a quick lap of 226.835 mph, proving that the setup window at Indy can shift rapidly as track temperatures fluctuate.
Rounding out the top five was Romain Grosjean, whose #18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda posted a best of 226.591 mph. The presence of several Honda and Chevrolet entries in the top five underscores the ongoing manufacturer war as teams refine their aero packages for the 2.5-mile oval.
Depth of the Field and Veteran Pace
The veteran presence remained strong throughout the day. Six-time series champion and 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon sat in sixth, leading a pack of contenders that included Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden in seventh and eighth, respectively. Santino Ferrucci of AJ Foyt Racing and Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global rounded out the top 10.
To provide a clearer picture of the day’s performance, the following table breaks down the top five speeds recorded during the second day of practice:
| Driver | Team | Top Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|
| Conor Daly | Dreyer & Reinbold Racing | 228.080 |
| Alex Palou | Chip Ganassi Racing | 228.027 |
| David Malukas | Team Penske | 227.139 |
| Graham Rahal | Rahal Letterman Lanigan | 226.835 |
| Romain Grosjean | Dale Coyne Racing | 226.591 |
Decoding the ‘No-Tow’ Numbers
While the 228 mph marks capture the imagination, seasoned observers of the Indy 500 look toward the “no-tow” list to gauge actual qualifying potential. Without the assistance of a lead car’s slipstream, the speeds drop significantly, offering a more honest look at a car’s aerodynamic efficiency and engine output.
Pato O’Ward, a two-time race runner-up with Arrow McLaren, led the no-tow category with a speed of 221.409 mph. He was followed closely by Alexander Rossi at 221.392 mph and Marcus Ericsson at 221.204 mph. These numbers are the true benchmarks teams use to determine if they have the raw speed necessary to secure a front-row start during qualifying.
The discrepancy between the towed speeds and the no-tow benchmarks highlights the physics of the Speedway. A driver might “top the charts” by following a teammate or rival, but the ability to maintain a 221 mph pace in clean air is what typically separates the pole-sitters from the rest of the pack.
Endurance and Mechanical Hurdles
Lap counts on Tuesday revealed two different philosophies: those searching for a perfect setup and those building endurance for the 500-mile marathon. Alex Palou led the field in activity, logging 118 laps to refine his championship-winning approach. Santino Ferrucci was the only other driver to cross the century mark, completing 102 laps.
At the other end of the spectrum, some teams opted for a conservative approach. Ed Carpenter, the co-owner and driver for ECR, ran just 48 laps, while Sting Ray Robb of Juncos Hollinger Racing logged the fewest of the day with 44 laps.
The day was largely clean, with no major incidents reported on track. However, the garage saw some movement. Alexander Rossi ended his session early as his team began an engine change, a common but stressful occurrence during the practice window that forces a crew to work through the night to ensure the car is ready for the next session.
The focus now shifts to the remaining practice sessions as teams move from general setups to specific qualifying trims. The next critical milestone will be the official qualifying attempts, where the tow will no longer be a tool for practice, but a gamble for position.
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