UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Andretti sets Indy practice pace

31 cars run after rain delay

Marco Andretti has topped the speed charts at the first full day of practice for the Indianapolis 500. The Andretti-Green driver and grandson of Mario Andretti leads the IndyCar field with a 225.478 mph average speed run on Thursday. Two-time Indy winner Helio Castroneves was second-fastest with a lap at 225.237 mph. The usual suspects are on top at Indianapolis, as Briscoe, Dixon and Franchitti round out the top five.

Andretti: "It's definitely a good start. It definitely shows that we have the speed. On our own, we're still not quite sure. We got a lot of tows today, which is a good thing, but a lot of times we don't know where we truly stack up. But I'm really happy with the car balance. And I think that's the key - getting the balance right and being able to take a trim. That's the name of the game. We'll have to see if we can keep up with it, if not get a little better."

In the only incident of the day, Ryan Hunter-Reay spun his Vision car in turn two and made light contact with the wall. Hunter-Reay was uninjured and is able to return to his #21 car today. Six hours of further practice are scheduled before the fastest eleven drivers qualify on Saturday's Pole Day.

(fc)

Written: Fri, 08 May 2009 16:02:05