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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Friday Indy 500 Practice Report 5/18
Marco Andretti uses extra turbo boost and a huge tow from Tony Kanaan to set the month's fastest lap at 227.5 mph as Chevys dominate Fast Friday.
Marco Andretti is one to watch for pole position at Indy on Saturday. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)
What are ex-teammates good for? Helping to set the fastest lap of the month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, apparently.
Marco Andretti strengthened his position as one to watch this month as the third-generation driver used the extra turbo boost provided to all 33 entries and a monstrous tow from former Andretti Autosport teammate Tony Kanaan to fastest for the second time this week.
Andretti's 227.5 mph lap also served as the fastest lap ever turned in the Dallara DW12, fittingly set on Fast Friday.
"Why not try to go for the pole?" said Andretti. "Today was a big day for us. I thought I was at a bit of a deficit to my teammates starting the month, but we woke my car up. But, we’ve been working really hard, too."
Despite Andretti's pair of fastest laps this week being set in a tow, the 25-year-old, like most of the leading Chevy drivers, also ran around the 225 mph range on solo runs throughout the day.
With a gap of 25 years to the last pole position earned by his grandfather, Mario Andretti, the driver of the No. 26 entry is clearly feeling confident about his chances during tomorrow's Pole Day activities.
"If you’re going to be in the top nine, you may as well be on the pole," said Andretti of the unique shootout-style qualifying procedure that will see the nine fastest drivers during the afternoon transfer to make a run for the pole later in the day.
"I showed this month I came here 100 percent to win the race," he continued. "If we can do it from first, that’d be fantastic. It would be cool to be on the pole tomorrow for sure."
Andretti's pace this month, and the pace of his team as a whole, has represented one of the biggest year-to-year turnarounds at Indianapolis.
After two of its entries failed to make the cut in 2011, the five-car Andretti armada has been the class of the field so far in 2012.
"What a difference a year makes," Andretti remarked. "If tomorrow we’re knocking on the pole, it’d be pretty ironic. Last year we were just trying to make the show..."
With temperatures expected to be over 85 degrees on Saturday, and with oppressive humidity likely to be on tap, the teams that worked on single-car runs with clear skies could be in great shape tomorrow.
"The cooler, the better," Andretti continued. "The more grip on the track. The hotter, the greasier it is. We put down some of our fast times in the heat, so I’m happy with that."
Andretti led a Chevy 1-2-3-4-6-7-8-10 on Friday, the same day the American manufacturer was awarded the Loius Schweitzer Award for its 2.2-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine.
Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe followed Andretti with a 226.8 mph lap, and three-time Indy winner Helio Castroneves backed his teammate up in third with a 227.7 mph run.
Andretti's Ryan Hunter-Reay ran fourth at 226.4 mph, just ahead of the 226.2 mph lap set by Target Chip Ganassi's Scott Dixon, the first Honda-powered car inside the top 10.
Two more Andretti cars trailed Dixon with James Hinchcliffe (225.9 mph) and Ana Beatriz (225.6 mph) in sixth and seventh.
JR Hildebrand went eighth for Panther Racing, and two -time Indy winner Dario Franchitti, the second member of the Target Ganassi team, took ninth at 225.3 mph.
KV Racing's Kanaan completed the top 10 at 225.3 mph.
Jean Alesi was once again the fastest Lotus driver, turning a 213.4 mph lap to place the Lotus Fan Force United team 31st on the speed charts.
Marco Andretti strengthened his position as one to watch this month as the third-generation driver used the extra turbo boost provided to all 33 entries and a monstrous tow from former Andretti Autosport teammate Tony Kanaan to fastest for the second time this week.
Andretti's 227.5 mph lap also served as the fastest lap ever turned in the Dallara DW12, fittingly set on Fast Friday.
"Why not try to go for the pole?" said Andretti. "Today was a big day for us. I thought I was at a bit of a deficit to my teammates starting the month, but we woke my car up. But, we’ve been working really hard, too."
Despite Andretti's pair of fastest laps this week being set in a tow, the 25-year-old, like most of the leading Chevy drivers, also ran around the 225 mph range on solo runs throughout the day.
With a gap of 25 years to the last pole position earned by his grandfather, Mario Andretti, the driver of the No. 26 entry is clearly feeling confident about his chances during tomorrow's Pole Day activities.
"If you’re going to be in the top nine, you may as well be on the pole," said Andretti of the unique shootout-style qualifying procedure that will see the nine fastest drivers during the afternoon transfer to make a run for the pole later in the day.
"I showed this month I came here 100 percent to win the race," he continued. "If we can do it from first, that’d be fantastic. It would be cool to be on the pole tomorrow for sure."
Andretti's pace this month, and the pace of his team as a whole, has represented one of the biggest year-to-year turnarounds at Indianapolis.
After two of its entries failed to make the cut in 2011, the five-car Andretti armada has been the class of the field so far in 2012.
"What a difference a year makes," Andretti remarked. "If tomorrow we’re knocking on the pole, it’d be pretty ironic. Last year we were just trying to make the show..."
With temperatures expected to be over 85 degrees on Saturday, and with oppressive humidity likely to be on tap, the teams that worked on single-car runs with clear skies could be in great shape tomorrow.
"The cooler, the better," Andretti continued. "The more grip on the track. The hotter, the greasier it is. We put down some of our fast times in the heat, so I’m happy with that."
Andretti led a Chevy 1-2-3-4-6-7-8-10 on Friday, the same day the American manufacturer was awarded the Loius Schweitzer Award for its 2.2-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine.
Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe followed Andretti with a 226.8 mph lap, and three-time Indy winner Helio Castroneves backed his teammate up in third with a 227.7 mph run.
Andretti's Ryan Hunter-Reay ran fourth at 226.4 mph, just ahead of the 226.2 mph lap set by Target Chip Ganassi's Scott Dixon, the first Honda-powered car inside the top 10.
Two more Andretti cars trailed Dixon with James Hinchcliffe (225.9 mph) and Ana Beatriz (225.6 mph) in sixth and seventh.
JR Hildebrand went eighth for Panther Racing, and two -time Indy winner Dario Franchitti, the second member of the Target Ganassi team, took ninth at 225.3 mph.
KV Racing's Kanaan completed the top 10 at 225.3 mph.
Jean Alesi was once again the fastest Lotus driver, turning a 213.4 mph lap to place the Lotus Fan Force United team 31st on the speed charts.
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