Calm Before the Speed: Thursday Practice at Indy Builds Momentum Toward the 500 [Photos]

With race day just over a week away, Thursday’s practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway felt like the moment where everything starts to click. The sun was out, the grandstands were buzzing, and the pressure of the Indy 500 began to take hold—not just in the paddock, but in the posture of every driver climbing into a 230-mile-per-hour machine.

For defending Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden, it was another day in control. The Team Penske driver led the field with the fastest lap of the day, looking as comfortable on track as he has off it all month. At this stage, Newgarden isn’t just preparing to win—he’s quietly daring the rest of the field to catch him.

Not far behind was Scott Dixon, one of the most experienced drivers in the series and a name you can’t count out at this place. He’s finished second here three times and won it once, and from the way his Chip Ganassi car looked today, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him fighting for a second.

But perhaps the most buzz came from Conor Daly, who put his Juncos Hollinger Racing car up near the top of the timesheets—an impressive showing for a small team and a hometown driver. Daly’s helmet, a throwback tribute to Indiana legend Wilbur Shaw, was a reminder of the deep history that lives around every turn of this oval.

And then there’s Kyle Larson.

The NASCAR star is pulling double duty this May—running the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte and the Indy 500 on the same day—and while much of the spotlight is on his bold schedule, Larson is keeping his head down and doing the work. He ran 60+ laps today with Arrow McLaren, focusing on how the car handles in heavy traffic. It’s clear he’s not here for the PR—he wants to compete.

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Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, a team with deep roots at Indy, showed signs of a bounce-back after a tough year in 2024. Christian Lundgaard looked steady. Graham Rahal, giving an interview with FOX Sports between sessions, sounded more optimistic than he has in months. And Pietro Fittipaldi spent much of the afternoon working on the kind of long-run setup that wins races, not just practice sessions.

Thursday didn’t bring any crashes, major surprises, or last-minute drama. What it brought was focus. Precision. A growing tension under the surface. Because every team knows what’s coming next—Fast Friday, qualifying, and the realization that the 109th Indianapolis 500 is just around the corner.

The calm before the chaos. The kind of day that doesn’t make headlines—but the kind that makes winners.

A Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (May 15th, 2025)

18 photos