Conor Daly led the second day of practice for the Indianapolis 500 on a chilly windy Wednesday afternoon. His fast lap was 228. 080 mph Yesterdays’ leader Alex Palou jumped to the top in the first before Conor Daly and David Maluka both bettered his speed of 225.969. Palou regained second in the final hour with a 228.026 mph lap.
Four cautions for debris and track inspections put the action on hold for brief periods. The early part of the day saw a lot of single runs, but during the second half of the day groups of cars put on a great show.
Pato O’Ward led the non-tow speed chart with a clear lap of 221,409 mph.
Tomorrow’s weather should be slightly warmer than today and sunny. It should feel better trackside than today. Fans were treated to near 1992 race day cold at times.
Notes
Takuma Sato has been unusually slow during the first two days of practice.
Ed Carprnter and Scott McLaughlin each required an engine change yesterday. Sting ray Robband Jack Harvey had engine issues during the late April test and both received new power plants.
Graham Rahal was sixth fastest yesterday and fourth quick today, a masked improved from the last couple of years.
Results
Today’s overall speed, Non tow char, and two day combined chart.
Si just arrived at IMS where Day 2 of practice is underway. Conditions are much cooler than yesterday, with a temperature of 64 defrees. The sky is mostly cloudy.
Conor Daly leads with a 228.080 mph la2:27 pm:
p, followed by Savid Malukas at 227.139 mph. Alwx Palou is third with a bes lap of 226.968 mph. Palou set his lap in the first hour.
Another strong crowd is on hand to watch the action.
There have been two debris cautions so far.
The top 7 as of 2:27 pm:
I’m going to roam the grounds for awhile. I’ll be back after practice.
Announcement Arrives Earlier than 2025, Local Delay Lifted for FOX Indy 500 Broadcast
INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, May 13, 2026) – As the stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES take center stage for the upcoming 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, a massive and historic crowd will greet them with a thunderous roar as they take the green flag. All reserved seating for Race Day will be sold out for the second consecutive year, showcasing the continued and growing momentum fueling the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
The final reserved seat tickets will be sold today. In addition, reserved seat tickets will continue to be available on the IMS Official Resale Marketplace through Wednesday, May 20 at 4 p.m. ET. Last year’s grandstand sellout crowd was the first since the legendary 100th edition of the race in 2016. That announcement was made May 20, 2025.All badges and passes providing pit and garage access also are sold out.
Limited hospitality tickets are available for Indy 500 Race Day. Available space remains in the Green Flag Club and Performance Center.
In tandem with this historic update, event organizers also have lifted the local broadcast delay of the race. Expanded coverage of the Indy 500 on FOX starts on Sunday, May 24 at 10 a.m. ET across the country, with the green flag set for approximately 12:45 p.m. ET.
“Anticipation for Race Day is approaching an all-time high right here in Central Indiana and across the globe,” INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “We can’t thank the world’s greatest and most loyal fans enough. The stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES are ready for an unparalleled showcase of speed, bravery and competition in front of a historic and massive crowd.”
IMS is the world’s largest spectator sporting facility, and the Indy 500 is annually the largest spectator sporting event on the planet, hosting a crowd of approximately 350,000 people. The massive grandstands around the 116-year-old 2.5-mile oval will be completely filled on Indy 500 Race Day.
While general admission tickets are still available in the IMS infield, fans hoping to attend Indy 500 Race Day are encouraged to purchase their tickets now by visiting IMS.com.
Tickets for PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Weekend, Miller Lite Carb Day and other practice days are still available for purchase.
Coors Light Snake Pit wristbands remain available to pair with a General Admission ticket for entry to EDM’s most unique annual event.
Fans can visit IMS.com and check IMS social media feeds for updates on all ticketing-related information. Remaining Race Weekend experiences are selling fast, and everyone is encouraged to purchase remaining inventory as soon as possible
Katherine Legge will be the seventh driver to attempt to do the memorial Day weekend double, driving in the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“This challenge is about pushing through perceived limits, taking risks, and trying to do something unique,” Legge said.
Legge is driving for HMD Motorsports/.A.J, Foyt Racing in Indianapolis, and she will be in a car for Fast Motorsports in Charlotte. Both cars will carry e.l.f. sponsorship.
Other drivers who have attempted the double are John Andretti in1994, Davey Jones 1995, Robby Gordon 1997, Tony Stewart 1999, and Kyle Larson, 2025.
INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 12, 2026) – Information about the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice track activity Wednesday, May 13 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
SCHEDULE: (All times local):10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public gates openNoon-6 p.m.: Practice (all cars)
TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $25. The General Admission ticket will provide the opportunity to move between the IMS infield viewing mounds and first-come, first-served access to select grandstands to view racing action from different vantage points. Children 15 and under are admitted free with paying adult.
PUBLIC GATES OPEN: Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7, Gate 7S, Gate 10 and Gate 10A.
PARKING: Free public parking is available in IMS Infield Turn 3 and Lot 7 (North 40) accessible only via Gate 10 from 30th Street. Free ADA accessible parking is available in West Museum Lot, Flag Lot, Tower Lot and Northwest Gravel. Free motorcycle parking is also available in the South Carousel Lot via Gate 2.
CASHLESS OPERATIONS: Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a cashless facility. Please be prepared to complete your ticket, credentials, parking, concession and merchandise purchases with ease during your event via debit or credit card.Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions. A Cash-to-Card machine, which converts paper money onto a temporary debit card, will be in Pagoda Plaza. These funds can be spent inside the venue, outside the venue, online or anywhere in the world where Mastercard/Visa debit cards are accepted.
MUSEUM: The IMS Museum is open 10 a.m-5 p.m. General Admission tickets are $25 for adults, Seniors (55 or older) are $23 and Military are $18. Tickets can be purchase online at imsmuseum.org.
Alex Palou turned the fast lap of the at 225.937 to just beat out Marcus Armstrong for top lap of the day. Armstrong laid down a 225.895circuit early in the afternoon as practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 began.
On a sunny warm afternoon the 33 drivers turn a combined 1,996 laps.
“Yeah, it’s good; it’s good now,” Palou said. “We had a couple of issues, but we fixed them. It wasn’t a mechanical issue or anything. It was just balance, not being super happy with it. We found something that explained what I was feeling, and it was good to go back out today before we go to sleep so we can be a bit happier.”
“You always want to do a lot more,” Palou said. “We didn’t do a many laps today, but still we understood a lot of stuff. Feeling much better than (earlier this afternoon).”
Palou was 31st on the chart in the middle of the afternoon when the car went back to the garage. The defending 500 champion returned and took over his accustomed spot on the pylon.
Conor Daly was third fastest. His best lap was 225.839.
Kyle Kirkwood led the non-tow speed chart with a lap of 222.062 mph. Palou was 16th without a tow.
I knew there would be a change to Sunday’s Pole Day format. I’m not sure that this is the best way to go, There will be no bumping as inly 33 cars are entered for the 110th running, which left a couple of hours of programming to fill on Day 2.
The pole eligible field on Sunday has grown from 6 to 9 to 12. I think it should be capped at 9. 15 is reaching new NCAA basketball tournament levels.
Some of the consequence of the new format:
Cars that finish Saturday in 13th, 14th, 15th need to use an extra set of tires. Assuming a car from this group makes to the final six, that team and driver will make three qualifying runs on Sunday, four for the weekend. That is assuming the driver did just one run on the first day and did not try again.
I am also by the fact that the three cars knocked out in the first round get nothing-no points, no extra money- just a “thanks for playing” from the series and IMS. These three cars should at least get a point for having to run an extra day.
Suggestions
If IMS needs to fill a time slot. perhaps an IndyNXT race would be a nice way to pass the time.
A vintage Indycar parade would also make for an enjoyable 30 minutes between sessions.
As many of you know, I have never been a fan of the new qualifying format, for reasons I will discuss on Friday. We need to get through this year with the rles as they ae set.
I ask just one thing of the track and PA announcers. Please don NOT use the term “Bumping” this coming weekend.
Editor’s Note: The following announcement from IndyCar details a long overdue change as to when a full course yellow is thrown. I applaud this change, and I am anxious to see how it affects the races.
INDYCAR, INDYCAR Officiating Announce Operating, Process Update Following IMS Road Course Race Review
I
INDYCAR and INDYCAR Officiating have announced an operating practice and process update following a review of the on-track incident involving car No. 20 during the Saturday, May 9 race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
On Lap 21, car No. 20 lost power and stopped on the front straightaway on drivers’ right of the track – off the racing line. Course marshals followed standard flagging protocol and deployed a standing yellow condition at Marshal Panel 14, with a corresponding waving yellow condition at Marshal Panel S/F (start-finish) to alert competitors to the stationary car. The escalation to a full course yellow (FCY) was made on Lap 22 as the driver began to exit the race car.
Following race control practice, the assessment of whether and when to escalate a local yellow to a FCY included the weighing of the following standard factors: driver egress, vehicle position, recovery vehicle access, safety team locations, laps remaining and the timing of approaching traffic to the incident. Additional factors on timing of a FCY also included pit windows and the running order of cars on track.
Effective immediately, INDYCAR Officiating will no longer take into consideration pit windows and the running order of cars on track before deploying a FCY. While there is no change to local yellow procedures, initiation of a FCY will be based primarily on: driver status, vehicle position and condition, the location and readiness of safety personnel, recovery access, and the speed differential between affected cars and approaching traffic.
“The Lap 21 incident on Saturday made clear that there needs to be a cleaner standard for how race control moves from a local to a full course yellow,” INDYCAR Officiating’s Independent Officiating Board chair Raj Nair said. “INDYCAR Officiating, with INDYCAR’s full support, has made this change of approach to ensure that the only inputs to the full course yellow escalation are safety ones. Streamlining the assessment will also save time as competitive considerations are no longer a factor.”
Added INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles: “The most important job in race control is to ensure the safety of our drivers, crews, safety workers and fans. Saturday highlighted that we must not waver from that central mission, and aligning everyone on that philosophy was critical to discuss over the last 48 hours. The Independent Officiating Board, the new managing director of officiating, race director and INDYCAR are all in agreement and the metrics used to determine when to initiate a full course yellow will now ensure that when there is any risk to driver safety that race control will initiate a full course yellow.”
The race result from Saturday’s race on the IMS road course stands as posted. The updated flag escalation standard has been communicated to teams and drivers.
The next NTT INDYCAR SERIES race is the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge Sunday, May 24. Coverage begins at 10 a.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX One. Audio coverage is available via INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls on SiriusXM channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway opens today for practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. While the entry list is short, cars will be on track for seven consecutive days.
Cars mostly run race setups the first couple days and then get into qualifying mode Friday when extra boost is added.
Last year on opening day the fastest speed was in the 227 range,
Something else expected this week is the anticipated announcement of a grandstand sellout for the race.
There has been a modification to Sunday’s qualifying format, which I will talk about in a post later this morning.
My track schedule this week will be a bit reduced compared to other years. I will spend just half days at IMS Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to take care of some things at home. There are no serious health concerns, I’m just catching up on a few things.
I will still have an end of day report and keep all three of you who reead this up to date on happenings while I’m there.
The guide to today at the track can be found here:
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 