“Overall I think we’ve got a pretty strong package”, said Chaves at the end of practice.
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Andretti, driver of the No. 27 Andretti Autosport Snapple Honda, and his Andretti Autosport teammates have been at the top of the speed charts in practice all week. We gradually built speed through the day and got through (rookie orientation) and did a lot of laps.
“The benefit of a long practice week at Indy is that we have the opportunity to work on things in a few different ways”, Andretti said. “I was somewhat in the mix in 2013”. But the primary focus is to lead the 200th lap. Really proud of my team of guys that have come together to support this fifth auto one-off entry with Andretti, and also really thankful to be part of a five-car program where there’s so much information to learn and reanalyze what I do and all of that.
“I think if you look at the number of laps the Chevrolet cars are turning, it’s not as if they’re laying down”, he commented. But it’s good, that’s how it should be for the 100th. “Hopefully, it’s a decent balance and she’s quick”.
The only Andretti to take a checkered flag in the Indy 500 was Andretti’s legendary grandfather Mario, who won in 1969 but never again before his 1994 retirement. Karam doesn’t have a full-time Verizon IndyCar Series ride this year.
NOTABLE: It was the first race with four female starters. “We definitely made some gains and have a little bit more to go, as we’re still making adjustments for the coming days”. I think we’re going to see a pretty competitive race. You really respect every lap riding around here.
Some competitors may not have shown all their cards yet, but sitting atop the speed chart today with a lap of 228.202 miles per hour, the 2014 Indianapolis 500 champion feeling optimistic.
First-day qualifying runs from 11 a.m.to 5:50 p.m. today.
Or, to be blunt, it’s a day that confuses the fans and doesn’t make a lot of sense in the “risk versus reward” category because it doesn’t pay any money or points. Only the first time through the qualifying line is guaranteed.
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Only the minimum 33 cars needed to fill the field appear ready to attempt qualifying this weekend, a two-stage process that starts Saturday when the only field is set. The remaining 24 cars move on to Group 1 qualifying to determine starting positions 10 through 33.
