A Day of Drama and Surprises
The second day of practice for the 106th Indianapolis 500 was filled with plenty of drama and surprises, and provides a glimpse of what is shaping up to be an exciting race.
Morning Session:
The morning session saw several drivers post their fastest times, with Ed Carpenter leading the way. The Ed Carpenter Racing driver turned a lap of 231.845 mph, setting the early pace for the day. Ed Jones (231.672 mph) in a Dale Coyne Racing with HMD entry and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves (231.599 mph) for Meyer Shank Racing followed.
There were also a few incidents during the morning session. Santino Ferrucci spun coming out of Turn 4 but was able to continue. Conor Daly had a more significant incident, crashing his Carlin car in Turn 2. The crash brought out the red flag, but Daly was uninjured.
Afternoon Session:
The afternoon session was more subdued, with Ed Carpenter topping the speed chart once again with a lap of 231.834 mph. Scott McLaughlin (231.652 mph) for Team Penske and defending Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson (231.571 mph) for Chip Ganassi Racing rounded out the top three.
However, the biggest story of the afternoon session was the crash of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya. Montoya lost control of his Arrow McLaren SP car coming out of Turn 4 and crashed heavily into the outside wall. The crash brought out the red flag and Montoya was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Fortunately, he was released from the hospital later that evening.
Looking Ahead:
With two days of practice remaining, the field is starting to take shape. Ed Carpenter and Ed Jones have emerged as early favorites, but several other drivers are lurking in the background. The rest of practice and qualifying will be crucial in determining the starting lineup for the Indianapolis 500.
For now, the race is wide open, and anything can happen. The 106th Indianapolis 500 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.
- Kind regards A. Guthof.
