Pato O’Ward Claims Top Spot in Third Day of Indianapolis 500 Practice

Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward set the pace during a relatively straightforward third day of practice for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500. The 27-year-old Mexican driver showcased significant speed, clocking a quick lap of 227.308mph during traffic running in the early stages of the six-hour session.

Top Performers and Team Standings

While O’Ward led the overall speeds, the session highlighted strong performances from several veteran drivers and teams. Four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves secured second place, recording a speed of 226.841mph in the #06 Honda for Meyer Shank Racing. Castroneves’ teammates, Marcus Armstrong and Felix Rosenqvist, followed closely behind in third (226.841mph) and fourth (226.626mph), respectively.

The top ten was rounded out by a mix of seasoned champions and rising talent:

• Alexander Rossi: Fifth place (226.364mph) driving the #20 ECR Chevrolet with a fresh engine.
• Sting Ray Robb: Sixth place for Juncos Hollinger Racing.
• Caio Collet: Seventh place, representing AJ Foyt Racing as a rookie.
• Romain Grosjean: Eighth place in the #18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda.
• Scott Dixon: Ninth place, the six-time IndyCar Series champion.
• Ed Carpenter: Tenth place, the three-time Indy 500 pole-sitter.

No-Tow Analysis and Qualifying Trim

In sessions where drivers run without the benefit of aerodynamic drafting (no-tow), two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato was the standout performer. Driving the #45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, Sato nailed a run of 223.828mph. Team Penske also showed strength in this category, with Scott McLaughlin (223.738mph) and David Malukas (223.391mph) taking the second and third spots on the no-tow list.

As teams begin to transition from race setups to qualifying configurations, the energy in the paddock is shifting. Scott McLaughlin noted that the Pennzoil Chevy feels strong in both race and qualifying trim, though he acknowledged the natural tension that comes with the adjustment.

“Solid day today in qualifying (trim),” McLaughlin said. “the Pennzoil Chevy feels pretty strong in race, and now qualifying trim. Always a nervous sort of energy before you drop it in qual trim. We’ll find out again tomorrow when we turn up the boost. Overall the Chevy power feels good and the car feels in a nice spot. We’ll see what we have come tomorrow.”

Mechanical Hurdles and Session Summary

Despite the high speeds, the session was not without its challenges for some teams. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing’s Jack Harvey struggled with a mechanical fuel-related issue, resulting in just 16 laps—the fewest recorded during the day. Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing also saw limited track time, logging only 19 laps.

Crucially, the session remained clean, with no on-track incidents reported as drivers continue to fine-tune their machines for the upcoming high-stakes qualifying sessions.

Key Takeaways

• Session Leader: Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren) with 227.308mph.
• Team Strength: Meyer Shank Racing showed significant depth, placing three cars in the top four.
• No-Tow Leader: Takuma Sato (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) at 223.828mph.
• Safety: The six-hour session concluded with zero on-track incidents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the fastest lap of the Day 3 practice?

Pato O’Ward recorded the fastest lap of the session at 227.308mph.

Who led the no-tow speeds?

Takuma Sato led the no-tow list with a speed of 223.828mph.

Were there any accidents during the practice session?

No, there were no on-track incidents reported during the third day of practice.