Helio Castroneves/No.3 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet was the fastest Indianapolis 500 driver in the final practice session Saturday morning before Qualifying. He ran a 233.474 mph in traffic and 230.925 without a tow.
Eleven Verizon IndyCar drivers went faster Saturday morning in cool temperatures than the fastest time of the week posted by Castroneves’ Team Penske teammate, Simon Pagenaud/No.22 Aveya Chevrolet – 230.698 mph.
Eight drivers went faster than 230 mph without a tow. Clearly the cars are trimmed out and ready to go.
Second through fifth fastest overall were JR Hildebrand/No.6 Preferred Freezer CFH Racing Chevrolet, Pagenaud, Will Power/No.1 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, and Juan Pablo Montoya/No.2 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. That Team Penske driver debrief Friday night mentioned by Pagenaud clearly worked out in their favor.
James Hinchcliffe/No.5 Arrow/Lucas Oil Schmidt Peterson was the top Honda
Rookie Gabby Chaves/No.98 Bowers & Wilks/Curb Honda continues to do well, in eighth place.
So far, Buddy Lazier/No.91 Wynn Iowa Visio Research Lazier Racing Chevrolet continues to be the driver in the most jeopardy on what used to be called Bump Day. His fastest time in or out of a tow was 225.890 mph, for thirty-fourth place.