Helio Castroneves Quickest In Final Indy 500 Practice

Column By: JOHN DOUGLAS / RPW – INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Helio Castroneves clocked the fastest speed in final practice for this year’s 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 on Friday. “Carb Day” as it is known, is the traditional wrap up to the preliminary events that lead up to what has become the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” with over 400,000 spectators packing the 2.5 mile Indiana Oval.

Castroneves and the Team Penske bunch have been fairly low key this month of May and many had shown at least a little concern for their chances in the 500, yet here we are just two days before the biggest assembly of humanity in racing and Penske tops the leaderboards again. All may be right in the IndyCar world after all.

Over the course of the final day’s practice session, teams experienced a myriad of challenges that don’t usually rear their heads. James Hinchcliffe experienced that first hand in the final minutes of practice as his engine expired. The team will have to start from the back of the field for Sunday’s Indy 500.

Fernando Alonso, the Formula One ace, had an impressive final session, running the 5th fastest speed overall. His McLaren with Andretti Auto Sport team has been very solid all month long and it seems Alonso has a very strong chance to finish well in the 500. Barring a disaster in the vein of a first lap crash, or a mechanical failure, it seems the Spaniard in his maiden oval race has the ability to pull off a real stunner.

The 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place this Sunday, with ABC coverage beginning at noon eastern time on the east coast.